Bill Harbour
Bill Harbour
Bill Harbour, this years
southern barometer farmer,
is manager for Gosmere
Farm Partners at 448ha
(1107-acre) Gosmere Farm,
Sheldwich, Faversham,
Kent. Crops include wheat,
barley, oilseed rape, peas
and beans plus
cherries under Countryside
Stewardship
scheme
SNOW in the week before Christmas was not enough to stop us ploughing wheat stubble for peas. But even so the job wasnt finished before the break – assisting with the farm shoot took precedence. One of us helps with the beaters trailer and the other the gun trailer. The latter is known locally as the monkey cart.
After moving 500t of wheat last month I was able to have a sort out and bring some wheat which had not been cleaned or dried back into our main store. That was done and the combine, power harrow, drill, rolls and trailers are now put away.
We have about 30ha (74 acres) of our own ploughing left to do, and have also agreed to do all the arable work for a neighbouring fruit and hop farmer. That amounts to 40ha (99 acres), of which 16ha (40 acres) needs ploughing for peas and 24ha (59 acres) is Consort wheat sown without tramlines for added interest.
I have just signed up with Van Den Bergh foods for 1998 peas – Bunting again. Of this 30ha will be for seed and 25ha (62 acres) commercial. I am pleased to see the price has gone up, not much else does.
Our direct drilled OSR is not as tidy as our neighbours conventionally drilled crop. Of course it is next to the A251 too, without the benefit of a hedge.
For me Christmas came early with the awarding of a rose bowl from Weald Granary for the best sample of grain going into store. All credit to Kim for producing such a good sample off the combine.
I was also honoured with a trip to Twickenham to see the varsity match thanks to Zeneca. This was for using and saying nice things about Amistar. Watch out for the video!
Happy New Year.
Bill Harbour is as pleased as punch after winning the Weald Granary award for the best sample of grain going into store in 1997.