Moisture starved barley in a field off the Moreton Road
Photograph: Colin Wootton
Richard Fonge writes:
June has begun with much needed rain. All the grassland fields are looking very sparse and the corn whether sown in the winter or spring is desperate for rain. The forecasters have often said during this long dry sunny spring that growers and gardeners need some rain. That is true, but it is to all our benefit that we have enough rain to grow good crops. The farmer for his business and the consumer for the plentiful supply of food at reasonable cost. It can be seen how short the crops are in length, and they have come to flowering or into ear much earlier, by a good two weeks at least.
There are two types of barley with many varieties within each type. The barley seen up the Moreton rd and along the concrete road is feed type, used in the feeding of livestock mainly. The other type is malting barley for the brewing trade, more suited to the lighter, brashier soils of the Cotswolds for example. It needs slightly different management to reach the standards of the brewer. Minimum protein of 9.5% to 12%. for one.
Wheat can also be divided into three types. Off Park lane there is a small field of wheat which is being grown for animal feed, therefore a feed wheat. Milling wheat is another type, like the malting barley requiring different management to reach the bakers criteria. Milling wheat commands a higher price, but has higher inputs and yields less than feed wheat. As a grower getting a contract with Warburtons is a premium for example. The third wheat is durum mainly grown in Italy for the making of Pasta and macaroni, with semolina as a by product.
Agricultural shows start throughout the country in May and go on till September.
Whilst farming is at the heart of the show, with livestock and agricultural machinery to the fore, there are many other attractions, with stalls and entertainment. A great day out for all and an opportunity to get to know how the countryside works balancing the demands of farming, conservation, public access and sport.
Finally a Warwickshire farmer I knew was called Birchley Saunders. His three brothers were called: Ashley, Elmly and Oakley. Do you think there was another branch to the family?
Richard Fonge.