A SURE SIGN THAT SPRING IS ON THE WAY DESPITE THE BITING EASTERLY WINDS.

Its finally dried up as the wind has backed into the east and the pent up agricultural demand for gas oil has exploded as farmers crack on with delayed planting and tillage operations at a prodigious rate. Modern sophisticated machinery can soon catch up any backlogs when conditions are right, as with everything else these days investment is the only way forward.

Out walking yesterday it was bitingly cold and everywhere the grass is burned off and brown with the cold, walking along an east facing lane sloping down towards the sea the difference between the two hedges was remarkable, the north side that was catching the sunlight was showing signs of good growth, celandines, primroses and snowdrops were in bloom and everything was dark green. The other south side being in permanent shade still had evidence of the hard overnight frost and little sign of growth at all,  true examples of microclimates about eight feet apart.

This morning the phones are again ringing off the wall reminiscent of earlier panic mondays workload appears to be 50/50 gas oil and kerosene. Prices have firmed recently and seem to be staying there, demand is a factor only to a degree, fear of a Labour Government being re-elected seems to be making investors jittery enough to bolt into oil futures as a safe haven. We all know that this is madness but the way the international oil market works is akin to the “Mad Hatters Tea Party” beyond tne wit of mere mortals to control.

At least the days are opening out as we head towards the equinox hoping for a better summer than last year. On friday the £ was worth $1.51 and the euro 90.25 pence, Brent crude closed at $79.32 per barrel.