Low expectations near Bracknell

Innes McEwan has cut the first of his oilseed rape at Jealott’s Hill Farm, Bracknell, Berkshire, and reckons it’s the best crop of the lot.

“I don’t expect to be bettering any yield averages across the farm this year, given the poor growing season.”

However, the 10ha (25 acres) of Grandia yielded 4.4t/ha (1.8t/acre) at 10.5% moisture – better than last year’s farm average of 4.1t/ha (1.66t/acre).

Mr McEwan had now moved into Buddy oilseed rape, which was not performing as well.

A headland of Gallant winter wheat, cut at 16.5% moisture on Monday (26 July), was not exciting, either, he said.

“We cut it because we were running short on straw for the dairy cows – we are even baling our oilseed rape straw.”

He now had 50ha (125 acres) of Grandia and Buddy oilseed rape to combine before moving into the wheat.

“We normally have a lull between oilseed rape and wheat but we won’t this year – we’ll be straight into it.”

Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: Grandia
Area: 10ha (25 acres)
Yield: 4.4t/ha (1.8t/acre)