Desperate for rain near Sleaford
Mark Ireland is praying for rain at Grange Farm, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, where lifting sugar beet is proving hard work.
“I appreciate that some people are at the opposite end of the spectrum, but we seem to have missed the rain continually.
“The sugar beet is desperate for rain and is difficult to lift because it’s so dry on our lighter soils, and we are drilling into dust.
“Thankfully we had a good bit of rain on 20 August just after we’d drilled the oilseed rape; we managed to get it in the right side of the weekend – it hasn’t rained since.”
Harvest was well and truly over in the area, with the last of the linseed and spring beans now cut, said Mr Ireland.
“The wheats have done a little better than we thought they would, but the barley was very disappointing.”
First wheat Oakley was about 15% below average, at just over 8.5t/ha (3.4t/acre), while second wheat Cordiale did surprisingly well, at 10t/ha (4t/acre).
“It was on the best couple of fields on the farm and at the end which caught the most rain.”
Cassata winter barley did just 4.9t/ha (2t/acre), with Quench, Propino and Concerto spring barley at 4.3t/ha (1.7t/acre).
Oilseed rape was just below average, at 3.8t/ha (1.5t/acre), but varied widely according to soil type, he added.
“The light soils have failed miserably, whichever crop they’ve had on them, while the heavier soils have done better, depending on how much rain they got.”
Crop: Winter wheat
Variety: Oakley
Area: 165ha (408 acres)
Yield: 8.5t/ha (3.4t/acre)
Variety: Cordiale
Area: 40ha (100 acres)
Yield: 10t/ha (4t/acre)
Crop: Spring barley
Varieties: Quench, Propino and Concerto
Yield: 4.3t/ha (1.7t/acre)
Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Cassata
Yield: 4.9t/ha (2t/acre)
Crop: Oilseed rape
Varieties: Excalibur, Compass, Sesame and Cabernet
Yield: 3.8t/ha (1.5t/acre)
