Expert oilseed rape harvested at Reed Court Farm

Jonathan Tipples has cut 24ha (60 acres) of Expert oilseed rape at Reed Court Farm, Marden, Kent, averaging about 3.5t/ha (1.4t/acre).

“It’s largely unexciting, ranging from 2.5t/ha (1t/acre) at worst to 3.9t/ha (1.4t/acre) at best,” he said. “I’m not convinced there’s a big rape crop out there – there are too many fields with big patches in them.”

Mr Tipples had 51ha (125 acres) of Expert in total, and moisture content was between 5.8% and 8.5%. “We should be through it by this weekend (26 July). We shall then have to wait for the wheat, which is still quite green.”

The 142ha (350 acres) of Einstein was at least a week away, but showed quite a lot of promise, he said.

Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: Expert
Area: 24ha (60 acres)
Yield: 3.5t/ha (1.4t/acre)

Crop: Winter wheat
Variety: Einstein
Area: 142ha (350 acres)