Derbyshire farmer says this winter was worst in his 65 years

A farmer of 65 years has said this winter has been the wettest in his memory.

Bill Dilks farms hundreds of acres at Shottle, near Belper, in Derbyshire.

Mr Dilks said he was worried about getting crops like wheat, barley, and oats – normally sown in the spring – planted in time for harvest next year.

Meanwhile the Derbyshire County Cricket League has delayed the start of its season for a week due to the wet ground.

Mr Dilks, who farms dairy, beef, and cereal, said they delayed planting in the autumn because the ground was so wet, but it was even wetter this Spring.

He said he monitors rainfall and they normally get about 36in per year but last year they got 52in.

“Then there’s the diary cattle – at this time of the year they have usually been out grazing for quite a time. If you turn them out they just shred everything up,” he added.

He said he was only able to put them out on the fields from this week due to the soggy conditions.

Mr Dilks said he was worried the heavy and constant rain was washing much of the nutrients in the grass away.

“I have never known a time like it,” he said.

“I am really concerned about getting the crops in for next year for the harvest because I can’t plant them.

“Sixty acres of rape seed has also been wiped out by flea beetles. I have had a bit of a disastrous time.”

Wet ground has also led Derbyshire County Cricket League – which includes more than 200 teams – to delay the start of its season until 27 April with play continuing later into September as a result.

Sam Beveridge, committee member at Ambergate Cricket Club, said the field – which is on a flood plain – was still damp underfoot but had no standing water.

“It’s not ready to bowl a ball on at all. We got flooded back in October and, with the amount of rain we have had, it is not fully dried out.”