Drought 2022 – We are Doomed – August 2022

Here we are another Spring and Summer, and its August 2022, locally we are sooner to go into a ‘hosepipe’ ban and probably National drought restrictions.

Going back to winter 2021/2022, we had no snow and virtually no frost. This meant we had appreciably lower water inputs. Also since the turn of spring, we have had no heavy amounts of rain. This general lack of water has built up into the current situation we are in now.

We have in the past winters and springs had severe flooding, houses, villages and towns flooded. So much so that the Government introduced measures for farmers to hold onto water, by land management grants and the planting of masses of trees and hedgerows under grant schemes.

Needless to say with this current drought, a lot of these plantings have been seriously affected, and will need replanting (normally at farmers expense).

We need somehow to retain water during Winter, and release it in Summer. Maybe we need more reservoirs, or piping water around the country like the national grid. Or maybe controversially reduce population growth.

Locally we are having massive housing estates built, with no clear policy on electricity requirements let alone water needs. Existing homeowners will have water restrictions through no fault of there own, and car charging points will be turned off at peak times. when are the politicians going to wake up.

Our local farmers have gathered the corn in 2 weeks earlier than normal. But the knock on effect is that they cannot get the seed in for next year, as the ground is bone dry. I can foresee higher prices next year.

The fruit in our orchards are ripening fast, but are of small size, and in many instances they are rock hard. Peaches and early/mid Apricots finished, now waiting for the late Apricots, Blackberry and any early Apples and Pears.

All the soil in cracking up badly, 20cm deep crack. Surprisingly those fruit trees on semi dwarfing and above rootstocks are doing fine. Those on dwarfing rootstocks certainly can do with some water. Apples rootstock M116 and above are doing OK, because they have more of a taproot system. Whilst M26 rootstocks and below only have fibrous side roots, and are more affected by lack of moisture.

Temperatures outside of greenhouses hit 50Deg C (in the sun, not in the shade), and humidity dropping to 15%. I am not affiliated in any way, but this is worth a read on how humidity affects our health.

Does not look like much rain today or in the next 2 weeks. Only Scotland is doing well for rain.