Hosepipe ban: Veg woe for farmers
THE heat wave and dry spell are also having an effect on farmers in the district. Iain Rook, of Littledene Farm, Southill Road, Broom, Biggleswade, is a vegetable grower with around 300 acres of land. He said that all his crops will be down in yield thi
THE heat wave and dry spell are also having an effect on farmers in the district.
Iain Rook, of Littledene Farm, Southill Road, Broom, Biggleswade, is a vegetable grower with around 300 acres of land.
He said that all his crops will be down in yield this year.
He added: "Nothing can really stand those temperatures we had. We have lost quite a lot of money.
"The only thing we can do to protect the crops in this weather is to go down to the local church and pray.
"On the herb side, it's been too hot so they are unsaleable.
Most Read
- 1 A1(M) closed in both directions near Letchworth
- 2 Lights stolen in Baldock burglary
- 3 11-year-old boy 'seriously injured' after e-scooter and car crash
- 4 Villagers pull together to support boy with life-limiting condition
- 5 Weston fraudster given jail time after scamming council out of £700,000
- 6 Our sporting stars celebrated with museum exhibition
- 7 Licence review for Hitchin's Chicken George after neighbour complaint
- 8 Invitation to Hitchin community garden party!
- 9 Crowds gather to mark Armed Forces Day in Letchworth
- 10 'He lives on in the hearts of those who knew him' - hundreds pay respects to Kajetan at moving mass
"Potatoes are definitely down in yield because the tops of them are affected by the sun.
"All vegetables will be short in produce so let's wait and see how long people will queue in shops for them now.
"It will be next season before we get back on our feet."
But Robin Smith, of Boxbury Farm, Walkern, Stevenage, who has mainly arable crops, said the hot weather means he is able to harvest early.
He said: "Wheat is our main crop and the roots go quite a long way down and get enough moisture.
"The only effect of the weather is that our crops are early.
"We are about two or three weeks ahead which is good because it allows us to get organised.
"There is a slight decrease in yield but we're not complaining. Its early days at the moment but it looks good for us.
