Archive Article: 2000/06/16
Tim Piper
Tim Piper farms at
Churchlands on the edge
of Romney Marsh, Kent.
Wheat, barley, oilseed rape,
herbage seed and vining
peas occupy 890ha
(2200 acres) of the
1105ha (2730-acre) unit
AT the risk of repeating myself, the weather has again dominated not only the conversation this month, but also caused some sleepless nights.
I thought April was bad enough, but 120mm (4.7in) of rain during May seriously disrupted our vining pea and maize drilling, which was only completed at the beginning of June. Last year we drilled maize on June 3 after a cut of silage and had the best crop we have ever had, so I am not too concerned about that. But I would be happier if the vining peas had gone in the ground two or three weeks sooner.
Over the bank holiday weekend, about 45mm (1.8in) of rain fell and the River Rother burst its banks, dumping six feet of water on to a block of grazing marsh and marooning 70 head of cattle on the floodbank. Rather than wait for the water to subside, they decided to swim 300m (1000ft) to go and see my neighbours cows and calves. You can imagine the fun and games that ensued sorting them out. With no other fresh grass available on the farm they were returned to the yards. Unfortunately, because of the mud deposits, that is where they have had to stay.
The weather has given our fungicide programme a severe testing. At the moment the flagleaf and leaves two and three remain free from disease and the next critical timing is flowering. Dry weather is desperately needed if the grain merchants "record crop" is to be achieved. I have my doubts, having recently been on holiday touring the country and seen many less than satisfactory crops with BYDV symptoms commonplace and septoria running rampant where T1 sprays were delayed.
We have shut the gate on the barley after another 0.25 litres/ha of Amistar (azoxystrobin). Milling wheats will probably receive the same treatment at flowering, as could feed wheat depending on the weather. Then our attention can turn to grain store cleaning and getting trailers, driers, etc, ready for harvest. *
Merchants predictions of a record grain crop are unlikely to be fulfilled, reckons Kent grower Tim Piper, after a recent UK holiday. Back on his own farm vining peas and maize were not drilled until June and the cattle have been for a swim… to the neighbours.