Harvest is about 80% complete at Ed Lankfer’s Laurel Farm, Wereham, Norfolk, and he is pleased to back on combining this week.
“We had such a heavy dew last night it was like rain, so we won’t be starting today (31 August) until about 2.00.
“But we got 15ha (37 acres) done at 15.8-16.5% moisture yesterday – that’s the driest we’ve had the wheat all season.”
Yields of Oakley and Diego were better than expected at 8-8.5t/ha (3.2-3.4t/acre) – slightly below average. “I wasn’t expecting a great deal because the drought took out a lot of tillers.
“There are a lot of shrivelled grains too, but although the odd ear has shot after the rain, 99% of it looks fine.”
Retriever and Cassia winter barley did very well at 7.5t/ha (3t/acre), but Quench spring barley died off at 5t/ha (2t/acre). “I don’t know why I bothered.”
Cabernet oilseed rape averaged 3.8t/ha (1.5t/acre), with Technic at 4.2t/ha (1.7t/acre) and Grandia at 4t/ha (1.6t/acre).
“We were generally very pleased with that.”
Crop: Winter wheat
Varieties: Oakley and Diego
Yield: 8-8.5t/ha (3.2-3.4t/acre)
Crop: Winter barley
Varieties: Cassia and Retriever
Yield: 7.5t/ha (3t/acre)
Crop: Spring barley
Variety: Quench
Yield: 5t/ha (2t/acre)
Crop: Oilseed rape
Varieties: Cabernet, Technic and Grandia
Yield: 3.8-4.2t/ha (1.5-1.7t/acre)