March 10, 2012

Welsh winter wheat land gains record expansion

The December Survey of Agriculture of Autumn and Winter Crops in Wales from 2000 to 2011 records a high increase in the acreage of winter wheat grown in Wales.

This coincides with the withdrawal of payments made under the Set Aside Scheme in 2008. Under this, farmers would receive payment for leaving areas of arable land fallow.

It would appear that this land is now mainly being used for growing wheat. The trend for crops is less smooth than for sheep and cattle. This is largely because the weather is a major factor in the amount of arable crops that can be grown -- wetter years yielding a smaller harvest.

It may be that the peaks observed in December 2007 were at least in part as a result of making up for the record-breaking wet summer earlier that year.

Compounds and straights are types of artificial fertilisers used to enrich the soil. Artificial fertilisers are based on one of three chemical elements -- nitrogen-based, phosphorous-based and potassium-based.

Straight fertilisers (straights) are those whose are based on only one of these elements whereas compounds are based on two or more. Compounds are used to assist in the production of arable crops whilst straights are used in the growing of grass.

The number of holdings keeping any significant stocks of fertiliser is relatively small. This makes the time series subject to a high level of volatility. The sale of fertilisers is strictly controlled to prevent it being used for non-agricultural purposes.

Farmers would tend to only purchase the amounts of fertiliser that they are likely to need for immediate use. Regulatory checks are carried out on farms that purchase large amounts of fertiliser.

Fertiliser is also susceptible to damp/moist conditions. Reaction with water renders the fertiliser useless and thus costing the farmer money.