Bumper barley crop on Dorset chalk

1 August 2001



Bumper barley crop on Dorset chalk

DAVID CHICK, who farms with his father near Blandford Forum in Dorset, has had bumper crops with feed barley and average yields with oilseed rape.

It is the first year he has grown Sumo feed barley, grown for C1/C2 seed for John Ebbage Seeds. In two 6ha (15 acres) fields it yielded 10.1t/ha (4.1t/acre) and 9.4t/ha (3.8t/acre). It was combined at the weekend.

“This is at least 0.75t/acre more than any barley has ever performed on the farm. Everything was drilled on time.

“It doesnt matter how much rain is thrown at this soil, it can still take it.” The farm is based on chalk and the winter conditions have not affected the farm as in other areas.

Ten hectares (24 acres) of Pearl was harvested as early as 16 July. This had an average yield and is good quality. Nitrogen is 1.55% with specific weight 75kg/hl.

Currently, they are finishing 61ha (150 acres) of Fortress and Tenor oilseed rape. This has had average yields of 4.3t/ha (1.75t/acre) and 4.4t/ha (1.8t/acre) respectively.

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