A wet start to 2026
If you’re in the UK, you may have noticed that the weather so far in 2026 has been wet, dark and cold.
OK, we’ve got through the cold, dark days of January, and so far February’s weather continues to be just as grim. It has rained throughout much of the UK for the last 40 days. Sheffield has officially recorded zero hours of sunlight so far in February, and this is having an impact on the country’s farmland.
Soil compaction can be caused by heavy machinery, sometimes even by livestock, but persistent heavy rain is also a major factor. When soil is compacted, its oxygen levels fall. Soil is essentially a living being: it needs to breathe. Poor soil quality means less opportunity for plants to photosynthesise and grow their roots, leading to smaller, less healthy plants and poor yields.
Eventually the rain will stop, and Chapmans are here to serve the agricultural machinery market with wearing parts for an array of machines which will help to de-compact soil across the UK and beyond. From aeration and subsoil parts to those used on ploughs and cultivators, we are here to help.
Now let’s hope it doesn’t rain on St Swithin’s day!!
2 March 2026
