Farmers fear for crops in wet weather

FARMERS in Northamptonshire are contemplating the potentially disastrous consequences of more rainfall, after two of the wettest months on record.

According to officials from the National Farmers' Union (NFU), agriculture in the county has emerged from a rain-sodden May and June having suffered few major ill effects.

But they have warned that, with harvest season fast approaching, crops and livestock could start to suffer unless the weather improves in July.

Northampton's NFU branch chairman, Richard Houghton, who farms 430 acres in Yardley Hastings, east of Northampton, said: "We have been more fortunate in Northamptonshire than many parts of the country, but the time factor is starting to go against us.

"We need the warm and dry weather to

come very soon, otherwise we could start to have serious issues."

At this time of year, arable farmers are preparing to harvest their crops and livestock farmers are getting ready to bring in the feed they have been growing for their animals to conserve for the winter.

But, as long as the fields are waterlogged, they will be unable to get near their crops, which will soon start to spoil.