Latest news with #VineHouseFarm
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Lincolnshire sunflower farm faces changing weather difficulties
A sunflower farmer says her crop has been helped by hot and dry conditions, but the changing climate means farms need to diversify to Taylor, manager at Vine House Farm in Deeping St Nicholas, near Spalding, Lincolnshire, grows about 1.5 million sunflowers a year for use in bird fifth-generation grower said that because of "varied weather and politicians", farmers have to find new ways of becoming economically viable."It's been a very dry year here – dry and hot especially in the early part of the summer – and that's really benefited our sunflower crop," Ms Taylor said. "But the last couple of years we've struggled with the wet, too much rain." Vine House Farm grows crops that thrive in different conditions, such as wheat, barley, potatoes and sugar beet, so "we're not just reliant on one product", Ms Taylor said."I think every farm is going to have to diversify and become broader or specialise in what it does to make sure it's economically viable going forward."The sunflower fields have become a visitor attraction, with people taking farm tours for days out."I think our sunflowers are a perfect example of how we've diversified," she said."It's that broad spectrum that I think will help farmers going forward." The sunflowers, which have been in colour for about a fortnight, are normally harvested in October by combine."We like to think they'll be right at the start of October this year, or maybe even late September," Ms Taylor field is colourful because they are being grown for seed, so they do not need to be cut early."When you're cropping sunflowers for flowers, you want them to look the best for the customer, not in your field, so they've already cut them before they become a beautiful sea of yellow," Ms Taylor said. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Dry summer boosts sunflower crop but varied weather ‘puts farms under pressure'
A sea of sunflowers has been helped by hot and dry conditions this summer but increasingly varied weather patterns are putting farms under pressure, a fifth-generation grower has said. Vine House Farm in Deeping St Nicholas near Spalding in Lincolnshire grows the flowers for the seeds to be used in bird feed. Lucy Taylor, manager at the family firm, said there are around 1.5 million sunflower heads grown over an area the equivalent of 65 football pitches. The 47-year-old said: 'It's been a very dry year here, dry and hot especially in the early part of the summer, and that's really benefited our sunflower crop. 'Sunflowers are obviously more traditionally known for mainland Europe, southern France and that sort of area. 'The above average temperatures have certainly helped them mature earlier than they normally do.' But she continued: 'The last couple of years we've struggled with the wet, too much rain. 'I think what we're finding is – although Donald Trump may not agree with me – the weather patterns are becoming more varied.' Ms Taylor said the farm has crops that thrive in different conditions, such as wheat, barley, potatoes and sugar beet, so 'we're not just reliant on one product'. 'Farming's under a lot of pressure at the moment, not only from the politicians but due to the weather,' she said. 'We've got quite a diverse business here and I think every farm is going to have to diversify and become broader or specialise in what it does to make sure it's economically viable going forward.' Ms Taylor said around 100 people came on farm tours last weekend to see the sunflower fields. 'I think our sunflowers are a perfect example of how we've diversified and we've got a farm shop and cafe now and things like that,' she said. 'We've got solar panels on our shed roofs and things like that. 'It's that broad spectrum that I think will help farmers going forward. 'The weather's getting so unpredictable that we're going to have to have other revenue streams.' Ms Taylor continued: 'There's a lot of farms up for sale around here already, I think because of the poor weather conditions, because of the very wet weather conditions we've had in the last two years. 'I think there's a lot of challenges and the farming lifestyle isn't for everybody, it can be pretty hard and pretty lonely for a lot of farmers. 'It's not something everybody wants to go into. 'Round here locally we're seeing a lot of farms up for sale, because perhaps the next generation isn't interested, can't see the benefit, the financial rewards of farming.' She said she believed things could change in the coming years. 'Maybe potatoes will get grown further north in Scotland,' Ms Taylor said. 'The ability to water crops will become increasingly important in the future. 'Then obviously we've got the challenge of manual labour and mechanisation.' She added: 'The two biggest variables are the weather and the politicians.' The sunflowers, which have been in colour for around a fortnight, are normally harvested in October by combine harvester. 'We like to think they'll be right at the start of October this year, or maybe even late September,' Ms Taylor said. She explained that the reason for the sea of yellow is because they are being grown for seed, so need not be cut early. 'When you're cropping sunflowers for flowers you want them to look the best for the customer, not in your field, so they've already cut them before they become a beautiful sea of yellow,' Ms Taylor said. 'That's the advantage of growing them for the seed – we get to see the lovely sea of yellow.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dry summer boosts sunflower crop but varied weather ‘puts farms under pressure'
A sea of sunflowers has been helped by hot and dry conditions this summer but increasingly varied weather patterns are putting farms under pressure, a fifth-generation grower has said. Vine House Farm in Deeping St Nicholas near Spalding in Lincolnshire grows the flowers for the seeds to be used in bird feed. Lucy Taylor, manager at the family firm, said there are around 1.5 million sunflower heads grown over an area the equivalent of 65 football pitches. The 47-year-old said: 'It's been a very dry year here, dry and hot especially in the early part of the summer, and that's really benefited our sunflower crop. 'Sunflowers are obviously more traditionally known for mainland Europe, southern France and that sort of area. 'The above average temperatures have certainly helped them mature earlier than they normally do.' But she continued: 'The last couple of years we've struggled with the wet, too much rain. 'I think what we're finding is – although Donald Trump may not agree with me – the weather patterns are becoming more varied.' Ms Taylor said the farm has crops that thrive in different conditions, such as wheat, barley, potatoes and sugar beet, so 'we're not just reliant on one product'. 'Farming's under a lot of pressure at the moment, not only from the politicians but due to the weather,' she said. 'We've got quite a diverse business here and I think every farm is going to have to diversify and become broader or specialise in what it does to make sure it's economically viable going forward.' Ms Taylor said around 100 people came on farm tours last weekend to see the sunflower fields. 'I think our sunflowers are a perfect example of how we've diversified and we've got a farm shop and cafe now and things like that,' she said. 'We've got solar panels on our shed roofs and things like that. 'It's that broad spectrum that I think will help farmers going forward. 'The weather's getting so unpredictable that we're going to have to have other revenue streams.' Ms Taylor continued: 'There's a lot of farms up for sale around here already, I think because of the poor weather conditions, because of the very wet weather conditions we've had in the last two years. 'I think there's a lot of challenges and the farming lifestyle isn't for everybody, it can be pretty hard and pretty lonely for a lot of farmers. 'It's not something everybody wants to go into. 'Round here locally we're seeing a lot of farms up for sale, because perhaps the next generation isn't interested, can't see the benefit, the financial rewards of farming.' She said she believed things could change in the coming years. 'Maybe potatoes will get grown further north in Scotland,' Ms Taylor said. 'The ability to water crops will become increasingly important in the future. 'Then obviously we've got the challenge of manual labour and mechanisation.' She added: 'The two biggest variables are the weather and the politicians.' The sunflowers, which have been in colour for around a fortnight, are normally harvested in October by combine harvester. 'We like to think they'll be right at the start of October this year, or maybe even late September,' Ms Taylor said. She explained that the reason for the sea of yellow is because they are being grown for seed, so need not be cut early. 'When you're cropping sunflowers for flowers you want them to look the best for the customer, not in your field, so they've already cut them before they become a beautiful sea of yellow,' Ms Taylor said. 'That's the advantage of growing them for the seed – we get to see the lovely sea of yellow.'
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
A fed-up macaque and glorious sunflowers: photos of the day
Palestinians rush to a site where parachuted aid packages are landing Photograph: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images An estimated 1.5m sunflowers are grown each year at Vine House Farm, which supplies bird food; the farm has won conservation awards and supports the British Trust for Ornithology Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA Hot air balloons create a visual spectacle as part of the Turkey Culture Route festival, an annual series of events across the country organised by the ministry of culture and tourism Photograph: Behcet Alkan/Anadolu/Getty Images Palestinian children receive medical attention at the Nasser medical complex after Israeli bombardment of the Mawasi area Photograph: AFP/Getty Images A clownfish takes refuge among a sea anemone's venomous tentacles, gaining protection from predators while also benefiting from feeding opportunities Photograph: Tahsin Ceylan/Anadolu/Getty Images Knights joust at Pendennis Castle in one of a series of events staged by English Heritage across the country this summer Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA A scavenger collects recyclable items including plastic from a dump site Photograph: KM Chaudary/AP Pigeons fly from nests carved into the rocks in the valleys of Cappadocia; the shelters have traditionally been created for them as their guano is a source of natural fertiliser, contributing to local agriculture Photograph: Ayten Altintas/Anadolu/Getty Images Police officers line up at a protest by pensioners, part of demonstrations against the cuts made by Javier Milei's government Photograph: Juan Ignacio Roncoroni/EPA Robots perform in a band at the Robot Mall, said to be the world's first humanoid intelligent robot store Photograph: Mahesh Kumar A/AP Buildings in Dayuan village, in the Baiyun district of the city, collapsed after heavy rain triggered a landslide Photograph: CNS/AFP/Getty Images A wildfire raging across the Corbières hills, near the border with Spain in southern France, has been described as 'a catastrophe of unprecedented scale' by the French prime minister, François Bayrou Photograph: Saboor Abdul/Reuters A man performs a sacred initiation ritual, cutting his tongue with a knife without drawing blood, during the Jola festival (Futampaf) Photograph: Muhamadou Bittaye/AFP/Getty Images A Ukrainian serviceman fires a howitzer towards Russian troops on a frontline Photograph: Oleksandr Ratushniak/Reuters A Barbary macaque at the Montagne des Singes (Monkey Mountain) Photograph: Mehmet Aslan/Anadolu/Getty Images The cast of Footballers' Wives: The Musical, a musical comedy based on the ITV series, promote their show at the Edinburgh Fringe festival Photograph: Jeff
