Twiddling thumbs near Letterston
Geoff Thomas is waiting for spring barley to ripen at Pantycoch Farm, Letterston, Haverfordwest, with just a little rapeseed left to cut.
“It’s raining again today (15 August) – it seems to be two steps forward and three steps back.
“We’re usually thrashing about at this time of year, but there’s nothing ready now; I guess we’ll get there.”
Mr Thomas had a little bit of oilseed rape to finish on Wednesday, but spring barley would be another week away.
“The crop of the year is definitely oilseed rape; it’s been absolutely brilliant.
“We’ve been striving to get to 5t/ha (2t/acre) for what seems like eons, and we’ve finally cracked it this year, by quite a margin, so I’m delighted.”
The PR45D06 averaged 5.58t/ha (2.26t/acre) at 9.5% moisture. “Quite often we have to combine at 15-16%, so I’m pleased with that.”
Suzuka winter barley, on the other hand, had been below average, at 6.2-7.4t/ha (2.5-3t/acre).
“We normally do about 7.4t/ha (3t/acre), and straw yields were down a bit, too – but it’s nothing like the disaster we were expecting in April and May.”
Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: PR45D06
Yield: 5.58t/ha (2.26t/acre)
Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Suzuka
Yield: 6.2-7.4t/ha (2.5-3t/acre)
