Oilseed rape has yielded a massive 1t/ha (0.4t/acre) above the five-year average at Tom Allen-Stevens’ Wicklesham Farm, Faringdon, Oxfordshire.

The 26ha (64 acres) of Cabernet, grown on the farm’s strongest clay soils, came in at 4.5t/ha (1.8t/acre).

“I know this is peanuts compared to what most do, but this is our best ever yield from our very variable soils,” he said.

However, wheat was not looking so good. “We’re currently cutting Cordiale on some brash and have revised overall estimates down from 8.7t/ha (3.5t/acre) to nearer 7t/ha (2.8t/acre).”

Most of the remaining wheat was Oakley, grown on sand, gravel, brash and some loamy clay soils.

“The dry weather earlier this summer hit it hard and I think there will be one or two places where it will hardly be worth taking the combine through.”
 
Contractor Phil Kinch was yield-mapping the farm for the first time this year using the Claas Lexion combine, added Mr Allen-Stevens.

“I think it will be interesting to see how the crop comes off.”

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Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: Cabernet
Area: 26ha (64 acres)
Yield: 4.5t/ha (1.8t/acre)

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