OSR yields down in Warwickshire

3 August 2001



OSR yields down in Warwickshire

OILSEED rape yields are down for Desmond Wells, who farms at Kineton near Stratford-on-Avon. Today rain has stopped the combining of the last 8ha (20 acres).

Eighty hectares (200 acres) of Madrigal and Escort have weighbridge yields in a range from 1.8t/ha (0.75t/acre) to 3.5t/ha (1.45t/arce). He estimates the average to be 2.5t/ha (1t/acre). This is 20% down on the five year average of 3.2t/ha (1.3t/acre).

“The first crops drilled have had the better yields, because they got better root establishment and did not suffer from drought this spring. The later drilled crops were worse. It was expected but Im still disappointed at how much.”

Two hundred hectares (500 acres) of wheat should be fit in a week, starting with Soissons and then Malacca. He says that the yields will be varied, similar to the oilseed rape.

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