Keith Challen opts for Fendt in his tractor replacement plan

What a month. Firstly, thanks to AS Communications for a fantastic trip to Agrotechnica; I never fail to be impressed by the array of farming and forestry equipment. Contrary to belief, this was a fact-finding trip to help with my machinery replacement plan and not a lads trip on the beer, honest.

Since the rain came, blackgrass has decided to put in an appearance, so far not in great numbers but enough to warrant spraying with Atlantis (iodosulfuron + mesosulfuron) at the next available opportunity. Blackgrass is such a talking point in these parts that local pop group “The Ruffs” have even written a song about it, keep your eye out for “The Blackgrass Blues” in the charts.

Final decisions have been made on our machinery replacement plan. Our trusty 27-year-old Steiger and two old John Deeres will be traded in for two Fendts; firstly their 939 flagship which can only be described as awesome and then, in support, a smaller 800 series. High residual values and low fuel use should make these cost-effective tractors to own.

First drilled wheat’s are struggling a bit, they have just lost their vigour, sitting in a dry seed-bed for seven weeks hasn’t done them any favours. The plants don’t look very strong. I think I’m going to try and give them a tonic of phosphite and manganese to see if I can’t give them a kick start.

Apologies to my neighbours as Millie thought their chickens looked suspiciously like pheasants and decided they needed rounding up and driving over the tractor shed roof. I did try and explain that she’s only a puppy and it was normal for chickens to stop laying about this time of year.

PS: Dear Santa, can I please have lots of rain, but only at night and not too much at once.

Arable Farmer Focus: Keith Challen