More rain? Maybe I should look on the bright side...

​Happy new year! Welcome to 2024. I'm writing this on January 2nd and the rain is relentless, so there's not much change to last year.
I prayed that the new moon in December would change the weather. No luck there. I prayed again that the dawn of the new year would change the weather, with no luck either. This is about as fruitful as a lottery ticket!
On the bright side, I have been reminded by someone that their cousin in Australia has had to sell all of his stock because of the drought there. And I heard from someone else who has returned from Africa, where it has not rained for four years.
Perhaps I should be grateful for our climate, and be more patient, but that's something I'm not good at.
The two fields that as yet we have been unable to drill with a wheat crop will probably have to look to an alternative spring crop - barley - and field beans that will provide protein for animal feed.

 The advantage of beans is that they are deep rooting, so help to improve soil condition. Secondly, being a legume they are nitrogen-fixing, so there is no need to apply so much fertiliser.
Times are changing in British farming. The subsidies that have been paid of late, which were related to acreages of land rather than production, are being phased out.
The alternative is what is known as the Sustainable Farming Initiative. This has many different incentives, which you have to build together and apply for.
At a time of tight food supplies, perhaps farmers should be encouraged to maximise production in the best possible way.
Well, Christmas is well and truly over, so the shop is not so hectic, however I have to report that Izzy has moved on.
I was rather shocked to see Easter Eggs in a shop (not ours!) already.
Bye for now, and stay safe.
​David