We don’t grow spring crops well, our soil type combined with the weather; either too wet or too dry in the spring, makes it difficult to get the crops established and off to a good start.
The financial implications of poor yields when growing spring crops are uneconomical. Hence our all-out efforts to get planted up in the autumn, with a race against time to beat the weather. Our soil type - heavy weald clay, following just half an hour of heavy rain can set us back a day or more, and once the rain starts it has a habit of not stopping.
Grain prices are creeping up due to a global shortage. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and it would have been wise to delay entering contracts too early at fixed prices. Fortunately, we had some flexibility, and our wheat which we normally grow for the feed market, is hitting the right targets as milling quality which gains us a premium – every little helps.
France has failed to secure the backing of European governments in its dispute with Britain over fishing licenses. French trawlermen are threatening a Channel blockade.
Emmanual Macron was humiliated last week when EU nations poured cold water over his attempts to use the post-Brexit trade deal to drive through economic sanctions for the UK. They suggested, no doubt correctly, he is simply using the row about licenses for a small number of French fishing vessels, for political gain before next April’s presidential elections.
“We were promised to be able to go fishing in English waters”, said a fisherman from Boulogne. Really - why not stick to French waters and leave our waters to British fishermen?
The senseless murder of Sir David Amess is sadly a reflection on the world we live in today. Intolerance, rudeness, abusive behaviour, and aggression are now the norm and default position. Politeness, respect, good manners, kindness and consideration are increasingly rare and even deemed by some to be a sign of weakness.
When presenters tell our Prime Minister to ‘stop talking’, MPs call colleagues on opposition benches ‘scum’, verbal insults targeted at our Monarch aired on social media, radical students cancel guest speakers, statues of significant and often philanthropic historic figures ripped down, successful and well-loved authors threatened for voicing their views, university lecturers abused and threatened for stating biological facts, Islamists extremists and sharia law tolerated within our communities, and no one stands up and says enough, we cannot be surprised when individuals and organizations target hardworking, honorable, decent men and women going about their lawful business.
This week we mourn the loss of this exceptional MP. A man who clearly was well-loved and who was proud to be the MP for Southend West.
We have felt the same sense of loss and utter despair when police officers, doctors, nurses, paramedics, and ordinary people and children going about their legitimate business, have been cut down by extremists and other delinquents. Sadly, these attacks will continue – the genie is out of the bottle.
Tragically, the people who should be standing up for decency and the very rules which the British have always stood for, have been cowed into submission by a minority who wish to break down, divide and rule our democratic society.
It is time to stand up and be counted. Those who wish to challenge the perverted views of the many niche minorities, extreme communities, and organizations, must be allowed to voice our opinions – firmly but politely. We must not be silenced, or have our words edited out or cancelled.