Jon Parker faces remedial drainage work
Harvest 2012 is finally over. It hasn’t been pretty, it hasn’t been enjoyable and it has been extremely hard work. In total we have had the combine stuck five times, something we have only experienced once in the past with a tracked machine. Why are the wet areas on the top of the banks and not at the bottom?
Oilseed rape planting has gone well although some of the wettest areas of the farm remain unplanted and will do so in order that remedial drainage work can be carried out. The rape has had nitrogen and slug pellets and is in the process of receiving a herbicide.
After spraying off stale seed-beds again, wheat drilling will soon commence. There will be no great changes to varieties off the back of one bad year. There has been a lot of talk about the cost of growing these crops this year and ending up with poor yield and quality. I dread to think what the specific weights would have been like without all the fungicides and the resulting deductions on grain deliveries. One thing is for sure, though, the straw has been a real pig to get through the combine this year.
As the wet harvest approached, I wondered if our decision to move away from tracks and back to wheels on our prime mover would leave us struggling. I am pleased to say that the New Holland T9.560 has exceeded my expectations in terms of coping with the conditions, output, fuel savings and operator satisfaction.
Finally, a huge thank you to all those involved with harvest and planting, including the families at home and machinery dealers for all the hard work and dedication to ensure that the crops were safely gathered in and next year’s planted.
Jon Parker manages 1,500ha, near Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, on a medium to heavy land, for Ragley Home Farms, predominantly arable growing wheat, oilseed rape, and salad onions. There is also a beef fattening unit and sheep flock.
