A decent dry week has enabled Robert Maylam to make inroads into both spring barley and winter wheat at Bilting Grange, Ashford, Kent.

Having made a start in some disappointing Tipple spring barley, he opted to cut 113ha (280 acres) of Solstice winter wheat, with pleasing results.

“It’s a nice, bold, bright sample and it yielded well over 4t/acre (10t/ha).” Although he sprayed it with Nufol to boost protein contents, it still came in at around 12% protein.

He now had 121ha (300 acres) each of Solstice and Tipple to combine, and expected to be busy all weekend.

After that would come 121ha (300 acres) of beans and some contract combining for neighbours.

Mr Maylam had an atrocious start to harvest, having tipped a combine over on a slope. Fortunately, the driver escaped unhurt, and Claas provided a replacement within just two days.

It then went on to cut an excellent crop of Castille oilseed rape, which yielded 3.7t/ha (1.5t/acre). “I was quite lucky last year as I managed to establish my rape quite quickly.”

Using a seeder box on a cultivator, the crop established very well, and never looked back, he said.

Crop: Winter wheat
Variety: Solstice
Area: 113ha (280 acres)
Yield: >10t/ha (4t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: Castille
Area: 80ha (200 acres)
Yield: 3.7t/ha (1.5t/acre)