Arable Farmer Focus FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: No-till has been a steep learning curveAt the risk of speaking too soon, I have to say the farm looks well. Cropping this year consists mainly of winter wheat in an attempt to recover some profitability.… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: I won a battle with wireworm for onceWe finished harvesting our potato crop in record time this year. Yields and quality were not wonderful, but we did have one very successful result. An 8ha field in which… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: My patience seems to have paid-offI would like to think I have been fairly patient this year. We started drilling the hybrid rye and barley on 22 September and finished a couple of days later.… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: I might grow catch crop on purpose next timeAutumn is that time of year when we spend more time talking to hauliers and merchants than is probably healthy. Thankfully, everything has now been collected or delivered, although not… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: The best spring ever as the election loomsThe farm is looking a picture at present. We have had regular rainfall, mild temperatures and not too much drying nor’west wind yet. I have never seen this farm grow… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Marking a year since the loss of a loved oneWe finished sowing a week ago with the drill practically pushing the potato harvester out of the last field. We started at the end of August, so it seems we… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Driving tractors while on phone must stopTravelling across the UK in an advisory role, from the North to the South, the West to the East, I see tractor drivers concentrating more on their mobile phones, than… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: The Champions League of drilling conditionsThis autumn has been very kind so far, and near perfect for no-till drilling; the Champions League of conditions in many ways here in South Devon. In mid-September we had… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Could AI help us make more informed decisions?This autumn continues to be chilled. Not in a nippy way, but in a non-stressed way. We’ve been able to approach autumn sowing in an almost lackadaisical manner, with sunshine… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Early end to wheat drilling and OSR failuresAt the time of writing, we have just 11ha of wheat left to drill for a neighbour, following potatoes. Our own drilling campaign came to an end on 28 September,… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Drilling earlier in dry conditions saves fuelUsually I don’t even start to think about drilling winter wheat until the end of October, as the blackgrass usually likes to germinate in mid-October. This year, however, is different… FARMER FOCUSFarmer Focus: Continuing the experiment with AIAutumn cereal drilling is in full swing in mid-west Norfolk. Unseasonably dry weather is allowing swift progress and a healthier work-life balance. This year, we have cultivated some brilliant seed-beds… More articles
