I grew up in an era when wheat was seldom fit to combine until at least the fourth week in August. So its not in my nature or part of my history to panic about lack of harvest progress well before the middle of the month. But earlier ripening varieties, climate change and sky high energy costs are making me very uneasy.
Harvest 2008 started pretty well. We got most of the respectable yielding rape into the barn at under 9% moisture, thereby keeping drying costs to a minimum. But then the weather changed. The last 25% of our rape is still out there blowing (and doubtless shelling out) in the wind between periods of rain.
Even more worrying - most of the wheat, which we haven't started yet, is fit to combine. Or at least it would be if it were dry enough. Patches of dark ears are appearing across some fields, indicating septoria that will reduce yields and quality. And if you look hard enough you can already find grains growing in some ears caused by a combination of ripeness and the warm moist weather.
A harvest that, a couple of weeks ago, looked quite promising has very quickly changed into one in which we will have to snatch crops whenever the combine will work and then face horrendous drying costs to salvage what quality we can. In fact its beginning to feel like last year all over again - unless, of course, the forecasters are wrong and we get three weeks of scorching weather from now on. Wouldn't that be nice.
Comments (3)
We tried some rape yesterday - 25% moisture. Perhaps we wrong not to press on. Rained all day today. Suddenly the promising harvest is not so promising. Last week my local merchant was telling me he was inundated with offers of old crop wheat. Today I have received a text from him asking for anyone able to load old or new crop wheat this week to contact him asap.
Which year was it we had rape growing through the swath. You had an item on the Anglia TV farming programme I think. 'A week in East Anglia' was it?
Best wishes,
Mike P.
Posted by Mike P. | August 13, 2008 12:14 AM
Posted on August 13, 2008 00:14
I don't remember the year but it was probably in the late 1970's. I do, however, remember the experience. We eventually managed to get our crop through the combine with great difficulty. It was slimy and grown on the underside of the swathe and a lot of that ended up stuck inside the guts of the combine. It took hours of very uncomfortable work to steam clean the drum and the straw walkers before we could use the machine again. And I made a resolution that if I ever grew rape again I would never swathe it but cut standing crops direct into the combine. I am so pleased I made that decision.
For the record we have, this afternoon, finished direct combining this years rape crop. It was pretty moist after yesterdays rain but at least its in the barn. Now for the wheat and if anyone up there is listening its time for some decent dry weather.
Posted by David Richardson | August 13, 2008 5:08 PM
Posted on August 13, 2008 17:08
We had 41mm Sunday morning, and raining again today, Monday. I hope you are luckier.
Posted by Mike Potter | August 18, 2008 11:05 AM
Posted on August 18, 2008 11:05