Andrew Kerr
Andrew Kerr
Andrew Kerr farms 344ha
(850 acres) in partnership
with his parents and brother
at Wyldingtree Farm, North
Weald, Essex. Cropping is
potatoes, including some
on rented ground, plus
cereals, herbage seed and
oilseed rape
HARVEST 2001 – the realisation of a seasons dream for some, but the beginning of a nightmare for the rest of us.
Yields of early harvested crops around here are nowhere near barn-busting level. A good result on the canola – the crop formerly known as oilseed rape – being 2.5t/ha (20cwt/acre) and with winter barley 7.5t/ha (3t/acre).
The talk in the local pub on a damp evening is about who has won the booby prize for worst crop in the area. On such nights yields normally increase as beer consumption rises.
I knew things were not going to plan when a hefty thunderstorm caused about 25% of our Abergold perennial ryegrass herbage seed to shed just before it was fit to combine. That left a miserable yield of 1t/ha (8cwt/acre) compared to later variety Greengold which produced about 2t/ha (16cwt/acre). Most of the hay has been baled and the balance sold in the swath to a local straw merchant.
Despite a full pre-season service, we have also run into a few minor combine problems, the most arduous being a lack of air conditioning during the hot spell.
I was shocked to hear how many farmers ring our local dealer for a combine overhaul the week before harvest, diverting attention away from genuine breakdowns.
The recreational tillage season has begun on set-aside, with some farms making four or five passes. We have moved ours only once with the combined subsoiler and power harrow unit mentioned last month to good effect.
Some ground after canola has also received similar treatment. Hopefully weathering and a spray of glyphosate will be all that is needed prior to sowing and rolling.
We have recently acquired a used Horsch airseeder drill. I had originally hoped to share a machine with a friend but differing tramline widths and other logistical problems saw us go it alone. Now I will be able to offer direct drilling, fertiliser placement and bean sowing to my contract customers. *