Archive Article: 2000/12/08
Patrick Godwin
Patrick Godwin is farm
manager for the 930ha
(2300 acre) Lee Farm
Partnership, Angmering
Estate, West Sussex. Soils
are chalk-based with
combinable winter and
spring crops occupying
525ha (1300 acres).
SEASON of mists and mellow fruitfulness it may be, but this autumns weather has been way off the poetic idyll. The mists were a sheet of rain which left me far from mellow, and next harvest may not be very fruitful either.
We have had over 1143mm (45in) of rain so far this year with 635mm (25in) since Sept 1. Our annual average is about 790mm (31in). Despite that our 150 ha (370 acres) of wheat drilling went generally to plan with the last of the Aardvark going in on Nov 11. Before applying any herbicides or fertiliser we have waited for the plants to develop strong roots as these very fragile chalk soils erode extremely quickly in heavy rain. A good root ball helps to bind everything together. Our last 16ha (39 acres) of Pearl winter barley, sown on Oct 20, is struggling through but I fear it will end up rather thin.
Wild oats are our main problem weed here, with blackgrass not so prevalent as elsewhere in the south. Hence our herbicides are limited to combinations of ipu, pendimethalin and diflufenican. All winter cereals are also given 1.5 litres/ha of cutonic manganese and 150g/ha of Librel copper; it really seems to help the young plants through the winter. Our oilseed rape, all September drilled Apex, had 0.4 litres/ha of Punch C (carbendazim + flusilazole) on Nov 17 because it was under attack from Phoma. So far we are devoid of pigeons, but there are some menacing flocks around.
Having moved here two years ago from heavy land, I really appreciate how forgiving this chalkland farm is in weather like this. However, I once suggested to a farm manager friend in Wilts that his chalk was "boys land". "Boys land it might be, but it is still only a boys income," came the reply. Our cereals are off to a good start but if it doesnt rain next June we shall fare no better than those who paddle wheat into mud. *
Lee Farm Partnerships chalkland is a blessing this sodden autumn, says manager Patrick Godwin. But rain in June will determine yield potential.
For: Fw103409 Littleboy
H& S of moustache man
Caption
Meet Kevin Littleboy, aka Mr Mouse, of Disneyland Paris and The Royal Smithfield Show.
For: FW103404 Bumstead
Man in yellow loader
Caption:
The Royal Smithfield Show received the thumbs up from Beds farmer Steven Bumstead. "Even the banks wanted to talk to me."
For: FW103371 Keeler
Man in grain store (choice)
Caption:
Andrew Keeler has been selling grain and reviewing vermin control at Church Farm, Aylsham.