Waiting near Ballykelly

Robert Craig has finished combining winter barley at Carse Hall, Ballykelly, Co. Londonderry, and has 10-14 days before spring barley is ripe.


“We have had a slightly better than average season – we did have drought in May and June, so despite the recent showers the ground was dry and combining was relatively easy.”

The first 24ha (60 acres) of Saffron yielded about 15% below average, at 8.6t/ha (3.5t/acre), while the second 40ha (100 acre) batch was closer to normal at 9.3t/ha (3.75t/acre).

“We cut it at 17-18% moisture, and although it was showery we got most of the straw in within a few days.”

Mr Craig now had 24ha (60 acres) of spring barley to cut, which was still 10-14 days away from ripening.

“We had an infestation of aphids in one field, so we’ll have to wait and see how it does.”


Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Saffron
Area: 64ha (160 acres)
Yield: 8.6-9.3t/ha (3.5-3.75t/acre)


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