91Èȱ¬

Charles had just got his potatoes into the ground in September, when the heavens opened. It rained, and rained, and rained.

Charles Goadby’s family have been farming their land for two generations. His Dad and his two brothers now share responsibility for their 350 Holstein cows, and 1,000 acres of wheat, oilseed, oats, barley, and potatoes. But none of them have ever quite seen weather like this.

One of the wettest winters on record, followed by Storms Dennis and Ciara, have left their fields utterly sodden, and the machines they need to work the land simply can’t get on the fields. The potatoes from last September are rotting in the ground – it breaks Charles’ heart to look at them. Whole fields lie empty, the seeding not possible in standing water. The maize they DID manage to plant is spindly and weak, and choked with weeds. If the weather changes, and changes soon, the family might just be able to turn this year around. But it’s still raining, and at this point, none of the family can bear to look at the forecast.

Will Spring bring new hope, or the dreaded call to the bank manager and the prospect of hard times ahead?