Paul Phillips was combining winter oats at Broniarth Farm, Newtown, Powys, until midnight last night (7 September).

With his 26 year-old combine, he had cleared 3.6ha (9 acres) of the 5.3ha (13 acres) of Gerald oats, and was pleased with yields of about 6.2t/ha (2.5t/acre).

“We grow on a low input, low output system for our own livestock feed, so I’m quite pleased with that, considering it wasn’t drilled until the last week in October after last year’s dreadful season.”

Mr Phillips hoped to finish off the remaining oats this afternoon, and get on baling tomorrow.

His winter barley, drilled on 24 October, yielded below average, at 5-5.6t/ha (2-2.25t/acre). “In a way, I’m pleased that it’s done that.”

Winter triticale, planted around the headlands, was also disappointing, at 5t/ha (2t/acre).

However, straw yields had been reasonable, and the weather hadn’t been too challenging, he said. “We haven’t had too much heavy rain – it’s just been a big niggly.”

Mr Phillips now had the remainder of his oats, and some winter wheat with triticale and patched spring oats to finish. “With the wild oats that are in there, we’ve got four crops in one field.

“We’re working all the hours God sends us at the moment to get the fields cleared.”

Crop: Winter oats
Variety: Gerald
Area: 3.6ha (9 acres)
Yield: 6.2t/ha (2.5t/acre)