Despite recent gales and torrential rain and the country looking and feeling like a sponge, believe it or not, parts of England remain in underlying drought. Times look somewhat better for our beef and sheep producers in 2012. The drought in South America has impacted on markets for maize (and hence wheat), soya and hence oilseed rape. Prices have risen in the short term, but profit-taking by institutional investors appears to be reducing the impact. Farm and Country Finance will continue to support the farming and rural communities in the year ahead with its offering of sources of farm finance.