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Rain fell across most parts of England and Wales. North West England received the most during the last week of June, with just over 12mm recorded. Wales received around 6mm and the rest of England between 1-9mm. Further rain fell in Wales and North West England on Thursday 1st July.

Impact on agriculture

The Environment Agency is monitoring the position with farmers across the country.
Low river flows may mean some farmers will have to stop abstracting water due to conditions on their abstraction licences.
Formal restrictions may be introduced on the River Wye in Wales and the Crossens catchment in North West if the dry weather continues during the summer.
- There is a risk of formal restrictions (Section 57) on spray irrigators later in the summer if the dry conditions continue. However catchments do response well to sustained rainfall so the situation can change quickly.
- The Environment Agency are writing to abstraction licence holders in these areas, including farmers, industry and fish farms, asking them to conserve water and check their licence conditions, particularly those relating to low river flows.
- Currently United Utilities are looking at drought permits rather than restricting farmers through drought orders.
In Midlands and Anglian regions, the prospects are better but continued dry weather could see things change very quickly.
Groundwater levels in EAs Southern region mean water resources are ok at the moment however problems could arise if the dry weather continues through this winter.
Crops are beginning to suffer as a result of the soil moisture deficit (the South and East need about 4ins of rain to restore soil moisture to normal levels for the time of year) even in areas where the groundwater levels are relatively high.
Cereal crop yields are expected to be down and straw in short supply with talk of the straw being worth more than the grain! Bedding straw for next winter is going to be in short supply
Farmers are also likely to net a much smaller crop of hay/silage than they’d normally expect.
Livestock farmers in are facing a shortage of animal feed and bedding. There is particular concern from livestock keepers, who have a small number of animals that they will be unable to source straw due to the pressure on availability generated by straw burning power plants etc.

POLICE are warning Local People to be careful of increasing numbers of thefts.

f you have any information regarding any of the above please call police on 0300 333 3000.
Thank you, Kate
Kate Easthope
Police Community Support Officer 6239
Kidderminster Rural Local Policing Teams
Tel: 01562 828290 Ext: 3914
kate.easthope@westmercia.pnn.police.uk

Dog owners are being urged to keep their pets on leads when visiting the Yorkshire Dales National Park to help protect ground-nesting birds and their young.

'The next few months are vitally important for the ground-nesting birds that live in the national park and we are asking people to remember that dogs don't mix with them,' said Alan Hulme, ranger services manager with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA).

'A dog may mean no harm to birds but, as far as they are concerned, your pet is a predator that could threaten them and their young. While parent birds are taking evasive action to lure the dog away from the nest, the eggs could get cold or be taken by scavengers like crows, and newly-hatched birds could die of exposure.'

The YDNPA has produced The Big Five leaflet that gives information about the main types of ground-nesting bird found within the national park's boundaries. These include skylark, red grouse, curlew, lapwing and oystercatcher.
The leaflet offers advice on how visitors can limit disturbance to ground-nesting birds in the national park. This includes:

It’s been a decade since the Red Tractor food assurance scheme was launched and the NFU is preparing to join in with the logo’s tenth anniversary celebrations.

Red Tractor Week logo Journalist and TV presenter Janet Street Porter will be in the driving seat for Red Tractor Week (June 14-20), celebrating ten years of great food and farming under the logo. She will be highlighting to consumers how the Red tractor helps them find quality assured food and drink that meets strict standards of food safety, environmental protection and animal welfare – all with a guarantee of origin.

The NFU Roadshow will be staging a special Red Tractor Week tour visiting schools in central London. NFU regional offices will be staging events including a Red Tractor Week exhibit at the Three Counties Show (June 18-20).

The week kicks off with a high-profile photocall in London and special events will be staged at supermarkets, restaurants, pubs and schools around the country.