Combines tear into ripe crop as sun comes out
Combines tear into ripe crop as sun comes out
By Andrew Swallow
PRAYERS for sunshine seemed to be answered this week as wet weather gave way to good and many growers in the south started harvest.
Early indications are that barley yields are above average, but reports for oilseed rape cut so far are ordinary at best.
Kent grower and contractor Clive Appss comments are typical. He had cut 70ha (170 acres) of his own and others oilseed rape by Tuesday and estimated 30% was done locally.
"Yields are 21-27cwt/acre. Theres nothing bumper out there."
Wet weather diseases and restricted rooting are to blame, he believes. In Essex, Tim Coopers yield of Pronto off sandy loam soil near Manningtree is a bit better, but sclerotinia has robbed some yield, he says. "Its not much over 35cwt. We hope for 38cwt."
With only 10% cut locally, fine weather will be a great help if it carries on, he adds. "We started at 21% moisture, but its down to 12% now. It is only people who have swathed who have started."
In Berks, Colin Rayner was hoping to start direct combining his oilseed rape on Tuesday, and says Soissons wheat should go early next week. "But that is later than normal," he adds.
Further north not much was moving earlier this week. "I havent seen a single combine going in Nottinghamshire," says Newark-based farmer Tony Tapper.
"It will be at least Monday before we get into the rape and middle of next week before we can consider the Vertige or Jewel barley. It will be the first time in many years that we combine the rape before the barley."
Banks Agriculture barley trader Jonathon Hoyland has had some barley samples in from Cambs, Beds, Herts and Notts. "I think we are looking at a higher nitrogen year. It is early days but that would be no bad thing."
However, SCATs Mike Butt says the early indications off the chalk in the south are for low nitrogen. "Weve reports of under 1.5% nitrogen on Pearl and Regina."
• Regional reports, p62 and p63. *
HARVESTUPDATE
• Oilseed rape ordinary.
• Barley yields good.
• Quality message mixed.