[Dave K]

The protracted dry spell is reducing yield potential in crops across parts of the country, according to ProCam technical director David Ellerton.

"Soil type is the dominant factor, with some crops on lighter ground looking very ill," he said. "If we don't get significant rainfall soon these crops will start sheading [sic] tillers, which will damage yield considerably."

Spring crops were suffering the most with barley showing the worst symptoms, he noted. "It is already losing yield potential and if we don't get heavy rainfall the penalty will be great."

http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2010/05/26/121424/Dry-weather-hits-yield-potential.htm

26 May 2010

[Dave W]

Just 51% of average May rain to 25th across E&W acc to Philip Eden. GFS 06Z was pretty dry again now for next 2 weeks in south as well.

[Dave K]

Every single region in the UK (and Ireland as a whole) is below average for May so far, NE & NW England the driest, and perhaps surprisingly SE England the "wettest".

http://www.climate-uk.com/page2.html

EWP was also below average for April, again notably across most if not all regions.  http://hadobs.metoffice.com/hadukp/data/download.html

[Lightning Hunter]

I'm suprised the E&W anomaly is that high. Just 9% of average here, and we're in the 'wet' SE ;)

[Calum MacColl]

Only 374mm in total for the year to date here in Fort William!

[Dave K]

Quote

Lightning Hunter - 26/5/2010 13:38 I'm suprised the E&W anomaly is that high. Just 9% of average here, and we're in the 'wet' SE ;)

Well Paul you're only just in the SE according to this :)   you missed out on the downpour we had further east on the 2nd which accounts for over 50% of May rainfall here and it has otherwise been very dry.

[Lightning Hunter]

Yes, hence the much-needed 'Central Southern' zone. Our area almost never gets featured in forecasts (TV or text), as SW is always central Dorset westwards and SE East of the IOW!

[PK2]

This link may be of interest - http://www.environme...ions/33995.aspx

[Dave K]

From the EWP figures both autumn and winter rainfall figures were rather above average: of course that is good for groundwater supplies, water tables, boreholes and aquifers but it doesn't help crops planted in spring which need the rainfall on and near the surface now to help growth and trees start to take in enormous amounts of water with the extra loss due to evapo-transpiration. And ET here is wildly exceeding rainfall totals with the strong sunshine and drying winds.

[edit] I didn't see your link PK2 until after I posted this but it is the Soil Moisture Deficit referred to in the reports that is most relevant for farmers and crop production before anyone says "but the reservoirs are full" ;) .

[Thesme]

Significant SMDs for Ireland, I see - will pose problems if things don't change

[Nigel Bolton]

My Maritime Pine is starting to look stressed already. It is a massive tree, and I have only seen it thirsty once before, back in the summer of 2003 when I moved into the area. The grass beneath has gone from being green to virtually dead within a week.

Am using all my washing water on the plants now, using water twice makes sense me-thinks, especially as water bills here in the SW are absolutely extortionate compared with elsewhere.

N.

[John Mason]

The soil in my veg patch is not bad 3-4 inches down. All the sheep-poo in there must be helping retain moisture. But I'm needing to raise water using bucket & rope from the Dyfi to do the watering, every other day. Rain catcher has almost been emptied.

I'm holding back on daily watering as I want the plants to reach down to the damper subsoil on their own, which they will do.

Cheers - John 

[scrapemedic]

hey do say that frequent watering is not good for the roots, so I use that as an excuse to water every third day. I am very surprised to hear we are in the wettest area, though I think that it all fell on the one day, the surface soil is very dry round here and cracking, the grass verges are yellow/brown around the edges.

[Dave W]

My holly tree is shedding leaves big time atm..

[scrapemedic]

It's raining!! *Dances around the room with joy!*

[Nigel Bolton]

Here too, and properly. Bet the slugs and snails are out in force now. They've been holed up by the dry for some time now, so will want to play catch-up. They have been much less of a problem so far this year. Time to go out with a torch and wellies.

N.

[Dave W]

Parts of central south reported 7-10mm in last 12 hours so this will help. Further south though 2-3mm was more normal which will not help much..

[Lightning Hunter]

Less than 4mm ere from that band, so still less than 10mm for the month.

[Jason Smith]

5mm here overnight although I notice that other local areas only received around 2mm, it was heavy and prolonged at times but well needed. Great to see the water butts full again this morning.

[Dave K]

Rain has been light here, just 2.3mm so far since it started at 04.00 but I suppose better persistent than a brief downpour and with the gloom and temp still <10C there's not much chance of it evaporating away!