We have completed our drilling program in the Ukraine in record
time. Lack of moisture to get crops away was a concern; now, after
the rain and snow in the last few weeks, a bit of mild weather
would be appreciated to get a satisfactory amount of development
before the winter really sets in.
The farm in Serbia has been making progress with the grain maize
harvest and, if the weather allows, should wrap it up in good time.
We have been doing some burning after the combine to speed up
cultivations to establish the following crop of wheat.
This was going well until the rain, but the grain drier we built
last year has reduced our gas consumption, making us more
competitive in the local contract market.
In Hungary we have been progressing with the potato harvest and
have only about 10ha left to lift. Yields have been pretty good
with Desiree topping 40t/ha and Mozart more than 60t/ha into
store.
Sunflower harvest is finished. Variable yields (1-3t/ha)
reflected the success of spring weed control. We are now into grain
maize and have called in some contractors to help with an outlying
desiccated block, which was flattened by a huge gale.
The only time we have seen anything like that before was caused
by driving snow. It has made harvesting a lot more difficult and we
are leaving a lot in the field. The crop that we are getting off is
giving 6-7 t/ha.
The good news is that the prices have started to move up a
little bit, which makes a change after a whole year of them heading
south.
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