The last trip I went on, pre-lockdown, was also to Moldova, 184 days ago!
It was good to finally be back in the fields looking at crops, although I say good, shocking might be a better description.
Rainfall has been conspicuous by its absence, even the trees are suffering.
Wheat yield was down around 50%; sunflowers down 70%; half the corn crop has failed, plants grew but cobs didn’t form, (presumably linked to high heat at pollination, exacerbated by drought); yet the guys on the farm are saying we haven’t done too badly compared to other regions!
Farmers have been protesting to the government looking for support or some leeway on contracts, not sure they will get it though.
Across the western border in Romania and it’s a similar story; yields are down; recently planted winter oilseed rape is sitting in the desiccated soils doing nothing; one region had declared a state of emergency saying all crops there had died.
Across the eastern border to Ukraine and early harvest yields for spring crops doesn’t look good, particularly in the south and west of the country around Cherkasy, Odesa, and Kirovograd.
Further east still and reports from Russia’s key wheat growing and export region are of very dry conditions with recently planted wheat crops struggling to germinate and establish.
A pal from there described it as a disaster in the making with no rain for months and everything burning up.
I’m hoping we can run our October tour when we can make a more measured post-planting, pre-winter assessment of the crop condition.
Watch this space for tour updates.