Harvest 09: Breaking records in Armagh
John Best was starting oats today (13 August) at Acton House Farm, Poyntzpass, Co. Armagh, having finished oilseed rape yesterday.
“I don’t think the oats will break any records.” He had 40ha (200 acres) of Gerald and Mascani oats to cut, and some were dying off, he said.
The Castille, Excalibur and Flash oilseed rape performed better than expected, after being drilled late and suffering from pigeon damage.
Ranging from 2.5-3.6t/ha (1-2.25t/acre), it averaged 3.5t/ha (1.4t/acre).
Wheat was still 10-14 days away, said Mr Best. “It’s looking very good – although some is starting to go down. We could do with a bit of good weather.”
Mr Best was also hoping for dry weather on Saturday, when he would be taking part in a record-breaking attempt near Dublin.
The charity fund-raising event expected to bring together 120 combines working in a 57ha (140 acre) wheat field – 63 more combines than the current Australian-held record.
For more information, click here.
Crop: Oilseed rape
Varieties: Castille, Excalibur and Flash
Area: 60ha (150 acres)
Yield: 3.5t/ha (1.4t/acre)
Duxford winter wheat is an HGCA Recommended List 2009/10 variety with very high UK treated yields and a maximum 9 rating for resistance to lodging with and without PGR. Combined with the highest second wheat yield and a balanced disease resistance profile, Duxford will continue to help UK growers meet the challenge of producing more grain profitably. Go to the Syngenta Seeds website |
