Finished at Reed Court

Jonathan Tipples has finished harvest at Reed Court Farm, Marden, Kent, and yields have been about average.

“We finished a week ago – we were combining at 19-20% moisture just to get it in the shed.”

The Einstein had averaged 8.6t/ha (3.5t/acre). “The extraordinary thing is how close the second wheat yields were to the first – normally they would be 1.9t/ha (0.75t/acre) down.

“We had hardly any take-all and yields were almost the same.”

Quality was good at 250 Hagberg and 79-80kg/hl, but protein was slightly low at 11.5%. “Some of it might get blended in for milling.”

Castille oilseed rape was disappointing at 3.3t/ha (1.35t/acre). “We would normally do 3.7t/ha (1.5t/acre).

“We had a terribly dry autumn so it didn’t really germinate until late September, and then we were fighting pigeons all winter, so it didn’t really get going.”

Mr Tipples had switched to Fashion oilseed rape this year, which he hoped to finish drilling today (1 September).

“Most people in the area have finished harvest now – there’s very little wheat to cut around here.”

Crop: Winter wheat
Variety: Einstein
Yield: 8.6t/ha (3.5t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: Castille
Yield: 3.3t/ha (1.35t/acre)