Martin and Paul Boulden hoped to start combining winter wheat at Court Lodge, Aldington, Kent, today (10 August), but rain has stopped play.

“We have had quite a bit of rain this morning – and it has been a bit slow harvesting the oilseed rape between the showers – it’s taken us two weeks to cut it,” said Martin.

However, the father and son team finished combining rapeseed last night, and were reasonably pleased with yields of 3.8-4t/ha (1.5-1.6t/acre).

Kalif performed the best, at over 4t/ha (1.6t/acre), but crops were very variable depending on soil type, and yields for some fell as low as 2.5t/ha (1t/acre).

Carat winter barley yielded slightly below average at 6.4-6.7t/ha (2.6-2.7t/acre), with Jalna oats producing a similar yield.

Standal large blue peas were quite pleasing at 3.7t/ha (1.5t/acre). “They were all standing and we cut 60ha (150 acres) in just seven hours – that’s the best we’ve ever had,” said Martin.

He now had Hereward, Cordiale, Solstice and Claire wheat to cut. “It looks well – it hasn’t been ready until now.

“A lot of people round us have been into wheat but the moisture just wouldn’t come down.”

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Crop: Oilseed rape
Varieties: Kalif, Hammer, Flash and Dimension
Yield: 3.9t/ha (1.55t/acre)

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Crop: Peas
Variety: Standal
Area: 60ha (150 acres)
Yield: 3.7t/ha (1.5t/acre)

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Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Carat
Area: 69ha (170 acres)
Yield: 6.4-6.7t/ha (2.6-2.7t/acre)

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Crop: Winter oats
Variety: Jalna
Yield: 6.4-6.7t/ha (2.6-2.7t/acre)

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