Cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage growers are facing a very difficult time which may even lead to some considering alternative crops because of the cost getting back on track after the prolonged rainfall.
That warning was sounded this week by the board of the Brassica Growers Association (BGA). The worst hit areas are Lancashire and Lincolnshire where rainfall of between 89 and 158mm was recorded in June.
"It will be a bumpy supply situation over the next few months," said chairman Philip Effingham. "It's not a complete disaster but it will make things difficult."
Planting of these crops is continuous to maintain harvesting levels in the months ahead, but so far the BGA estimates that only 40-50 percent are in the ground.
"That proportion growing has not always moved fast and could be affected by leaching in the soil. Because of conditions we don't know how the crop will behave," he added. BGA estimates that this will impact on the supply position broadly between mid August and September 20, with the market set to ‘swing between feast and famine’, making the situation doubly difficult.
Some producers are planting in areas outside their traditional acreage as a way of trying to correct the situation.
Sprouts planted in May have not escaped, although at this stage Effingham added there were ‘no alarm bells.’ However yields could turn out to be 20 percent down as plants at this stage could not be replaced. Crops would need extra feeding and weed control, he said.
No comments yet