188: Reaping the rewards – weather or not

What a year it has been, too wet then too dry, crops failing to establish, followed by worries about the ground being suitable for getting new seeds sown.  Extreme and severe weather patterns cause more weather worries, too dry, too hot, you know the form and the indications are that the harvest will be a disappointment – who’d be a farmer eh? In this podcast, John Bates speaks to Dr Toby Willison, Executive Director of Operations at the Environment Agency and Dr Nicola Dunn Resource Management Scientist at AHDB about the impact of flooding and how farmers can use this to their benefit. We are aware the issues extreme weather can cause to farmland, the specialists discuss the support for farmers including the ELMS (Environmental Land Management Scheme) along with other resources to help businesses as well as the community. Weather impacts all sectors, it’s a time for farmers and growers to come together and encounter extreme weather conditions to help our communities.  Find out more information on the ELMS (Environmental Land Management Scheme)  Check out our GREATsoils programme and ensure you’re managing or upgrading your field drainage Visit our weather page which includes sector-specific guidance including soils information, weather warnings, heat stress, irrigation management, managing grass and dealing with water supplies  Look at our Weather Hub to find out information on air temperatures, rainfall, relative humidity, sunshine duration, wind speed, soil moisture, soil temperature and solar radiation For any further information contact our specialist Nicola Dunn.