– It is very dry. Now we need rain, says farmer Nora Sandberg. She wishes for a lot of rain in the future. Without rain, there will be no more grass. – Right now I can manage a bit more. I have green grass to graze for two more weeks. After that, there isn’t much left to eat, so we have to start feeding inside instead, she says. DRY: The soil at the farmer’s place in Furnes in Ringsaker is dry. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news In May it has only rained 8.2 millimeters in Furnes in Ringsaker. It is almost 47 millimeters below normal, according to the Norwegian Meteorological Institute. No signs of precipitation The four-week forecast, which Norwegian Agricultural Advisory has access to, shows that there are no signs of precipitation in the next four weeks. Many farmers are already struggling with too little grass for their animals. Jon Smits in the Meteorological Institute confirms the four-week forecast. He says that the forecast seems to suggest high pressure over southern Norway and Scandinavia, with less rainfall than normal. In Northern Norway, on the other hand, the weather will be worse. WORRYING: Åsmund Langeland in the Norwegian Agricultural Advisory Service (NLR) says it is challenging in some fields now. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news – For some fields it still looks good. But for some it is quite challenging now, says Åsmund Langeland in Norwegian Agricultural Advisory Service (NLR). He believes there is much that could indicate that there will be another dry summer, as it was in 2018. – I think it is most worrying for those who produce grass. They must secure the basis for further milk or meat production. Securing straw from neighbors Farmer Nora Sandberg says that she has spoken to neighbors who are engaged in grain production in order to secure straw for winter feeding, and to get the animals through the winter. She says that they took the first cut last week. They have also had a larger area of grass this year, just in case. – But still, we only have about half the amount compared to last year. So there is little feed and the future looks bad. RAIN: Nora Sandberg wants rain so that there will be enough grass for feed for the animals. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news The cows don’t like the sun either, says Sandberg. – The cow doesn’t like it being hot either, so now they are going into the barn, because now the sun is coming out and then they would rather be inside than standing out here roasting with the grass. – Your desire is very clear right now? – Yes, that one wish: and it’s rainy. A lot of rain, concludes Sandberg. SUN: The cows don’t like the sun and would rather go into the barn, says farmer Nora Sandberg. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news
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Fears a critical dry summer – no rain expected for four weeks – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
