NEWS

Farmers resort to jet skis in County Fermanagh
By Chris McCullough

CONTINUING wet weather has made some farming practices virtually impossible in some parts of Northern Ireland, particularly in County Fermanagh.
Farmers in that area have had to resort to canoes and jet skis to get around as rising water levels in Lough Erne has swallowed up much of the farmland and houses. 
County Fermanagh has eperienced rainfall for over 30 days in a row and is preparing itself as more heavy rain is expected over the next few days.
Water levels in Lough Erne have been the highest ever experienced. It will take days, possibly weeks, for the levels to reduce enough to reveal many of the counties roads and farmland once again.
Isolated from normal existence some Fermanagh farmers have brought out their canoes and jet skis simply to get around, as the floods have reached Enniskillen town centre itself.
No reports of livestock being caught in the flooding have been made as yet, and it is hoped flood levels in the area will reduce soon.
Elsewhere, vegetable and crop harvesting has all but ceased in many areas. County Down vegetable grower Robin McKee said conditions were proving difficult to harvest carrots and parsnips, but hoped for drier weather soon.
"Ground is very saturated indeed," he said. "Harvesting has come to a standstill in some areas, but thankfully we are not heavily flooded. We hope it will dry up soon so we can get back to harvesting."
Arable farmers have also been affected as the usual sowing of winter wheat is virtually non-existent now and, according to some arable farmers, might be put off until the new year.

Full story available in FARM WEEK - see your local newsagent
Click here for previous stories

November 27th 2009
November 20th 2009