[Rosemary]

Blowing a bloody gale here tonight 

[happygolucky]

...and we have the heating on...just saw my daughter in a Bikini in England and I have had a coat on all day 

[HesterF]

Any ideas for the far South East on Weds pm? Got school sports day followed by fete. I've checked various on-line forecasts which vary from cold and rain, through overcast but warm to warm (not hot) but sunny with zero chance of rain. Bizarre to have such a mix and impossible to plan refreshment for.

H

[Ina]

Heard on the news this morning it was the warmest day of the year yesterday??? Not here, mate!

[ZaktheLad]

Nor here on the Bristol/Gloucester borders.  It was blowing a gale most of the day and decidedly nippy!  It was dry with sunny periods though which was something!   

[plumseverywhere]

Well I guess Victorian Farmer was saying from Friday of this week so maybe the days leading to it are goign to be a bit pants. Today is cloudy and dull in Worcestershire 

[Lesley Silvester]

Saturday - THE wedding day - was supposed to be overcast but dry. We had glorious sunshine all day. I don't mind a bit of  but no more than about 25C with a nice breeze please.

[goosepimple]

I like VF's forecasts they're usually right.       Hi VF 

[plumseverywhere]

I like VF's forecasts they're usually right.       Hi VF 

I was telling OH about them last night in fact! They are usually spot on 

[Victorian Farmer]

i think its the only thing that i get  right .iv had a real bad season lost 60 ewes in march to the wether  only 2 weeks of the sale should of sold in November .Done more barley and rape only to be told that 20 percent is eney good .No grass 3 bee hives left out of 20 all lost .Bought in 4 cock birds all infertile no chicks .Di dent do turkeys or geese the price of electricity and crumbs to high so i don't see a way out of this. I'm thinking of having 2014 season  out from march contract tract er work etc if i had no skills i would of gone bust so not a good time i don't post much as my advise as got me into this mess still 12 months to sort there wont be meney rare breeds left feed costs to high etc .iv never seen farming so hard   

[plumseverywhere]

So, so sorry to hear that VF    I knew you'd had a hard March but didn't realise how hard. Just awful.   I really hope that things turn around for you very soon, you are always so supportive to everyone on here - about time you had some good come your way 

[goosepimple]

Yup, cost of feed etc has been making me think twice about keeping our livestock I must admit.  It's the ad-ons of injections, shearing, pony feet trimming - its all small amounts but adds up over the year and as we have had nothing but bad weather since we moved here nearly 4 years ago, so spent more on food than would have liked - it's financially hard to justify.  Do love having them though but there's only pennies to be made really if anything. 
 
Not doing Muscovy ducks this year, couldn't make it work financially last year so took most of the eggs and left mums with 4 each - have let all the chicks out with their mums instead of cooping them for first month, lots are being taken of course by herons and crows     Mallards seems to be doing very well this year, too many eating the food though.
Hope your weather prediction bids well VF, at least  keeps our chins up 

[Victorian Farmer]

The thing i don't get is i get vets food stuff every six weeks and in that time its still going up shopping hardware we don't stand a chance .The barley and rape cost me 20 thousand in fuel and grain and that return would broke even .So the lambs geese chickins would be a bonus but only a small bit is good .I could of borrowed and gone again but it was to late in the season .The rent is £500 a month with work on top .The live stock needs to pay and at the moment it do sent go nere .The wether never seen it like it is the jet stream is up and dawn but this high is massive the only problem is when it ends flash floods if the jet stream do sent sort the wether will be better in Scotland than in the UK .But if the jet stream is low dawn and blocks the cold air will freeze Scotland so if this happend in November it would be 2010 winter again and 4 months freeze .That is why i never replanted august and September could go dawn the pan at eney time IL do thainstone and carlile and keep a low profile ,have a  nice day

[happygolucky]

VF, so sorry to hear that you are having a terrible time, that's the big downside to farming in any form, you are too reliant on mother nature.
The bad weather conditions effect us all  directly or indirectly but you appear to have had the lot, heres wishing you a quick recovery!!

[Victorian Farmer]

Thanks for that I'm thinking of tacking 2014 out and work contract tract er work etc if i PAC up in march after lambing i could come back October and re plant and go for it in the spring the only problem is this Autumn and winter i have no grass and little straw and still have the feed and diesel to pay .I'm upset that the rare breed poultry will disape re just as things looked better