Best harvest for a decade at Deer Park Farm
Martin Howlett is celebrating the best harvest for a decade at Deer Park Farm, Callington, Cornwall, despite the difficult weather.
“It’s been a frustrating harvest but yields have probably been the best in the area for 10 years,” he said.
In general, yields had been 10-15% above average, with Saffron winter barley at 6.2t/ha (2.5t/acre) and Suzuka at almost 7.4t/ha (3t/acre).
“That’s the best we’ve ever done.”
Mascani winter oats came off at 6.4-6.8t/ha (2.6-2.75t/acre), and straw yields had been surprisingly good as well.
Having finished combining cereals, Mr Howlett just had beans left to cut.
“We’ve only had two decent weeks’ harvest in the whole of the summer – one was at the end of July when nothing was ripe, and the other was over the Bank Holiday weekend.
“People have still got 10-20% of crops to cut in the area – there are a lot of wheat and beans about.”
Crop: Winter oats
Variety: Mascani
Yield: 6.4-6.8t/ha (2.6-2.75t/acre)
Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Saffron
Yield: 6.2t/ha (2.5t/acre)
Variety: Suzuka
Yield: 7.4t/ha (3t/acre)
