It is a concern that the theft of modern tractors appears to have increased rapidly this year. While some of my gear is probably only of interest to the scrap thieves cashing in on recent strong recycled metal prices, we have adopted a stronger policy on securing the newer machines.

Securing tractors would of course be much easier if we did not have the bizarre situation of most makers traditionally having all their tractors “keyed alike” from the factory. The cost saving and convenience this brings to owners is surely a false economy compared with the favour it does for thieves.

It is not uncommon for me to end up driving home on a tractor in the late evening after catching up on some field work, often after spending part of the day doing an off-farm task. And I have half expected to be stopped by the police who are sensibly checking that late evening tractor journeys are above board, but it has not happened yet.

Crops are generally looking well with one exception – a late drilled field of winter wheat following beet. This is the field that I mentioned last year. Following ELS over wintered stubble, ploughed late, the sugar beet struggled all season. As such I left it for later-than-usual lifting, which did give a surprisingly good yield.

However, the later drilling following the beet crop which had a few bare areas has had the anticipated wheat bulb fly problems. Looking around the fens, this is not a unique situation, but I am irritated that a mistake with the choice of over-wintered stubble site last year has had a negative effect on two successive crops, not just one.

Thankfully the areas affected are fairly small, and I know I did everything chemically and culturally appropriate to protect the crop, but why did it have to be a field so visible from the road?

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