Rain holds off in Kent

Martin Boulden hasn‘t received any rain since Friday night, allowing him to harvest 80ha (200 acres) of Hereward wheat on his farm near Ashford, Kent.

“We‘ve had good combining conditions and we‘ve got good grain quality – I‘m very pleased.”

The Hereward came off with Hagberg at 260, protein was 14%, specific weights were    78 kg/hl and moisture content was 18%. It was roughly yielding 9.9 t/ha (4 t/acre).

“Moisture contents were high, but we just decided to do it and try to get as much as possible done, while also saving the quality – we just keep nibbling away at it.”

“Our biggest worry was the loss of the Hagbergs, but thankfully, we managed to save them.”

Mr Boulden was impressed with Hereward‘s resistance to Septoria Tritici: “Hereward stood up to the Septoria problems better than any other variety.”

However, the Soissons did less well.

According to his agronomist, the wheat crop has suffered 20% damage from orange blossom midge. However Mr Boulden couldn‘t see much evidence of the damage.

“It‘s so hard to tell. There was little evidence of it in the sample, but the damaged grain just gets chucked out the back of the combine so we‘ll never know exactly.”

This year‘s harvest is roughly on par with his 5 year average, but when considering the type of year it‘s been, he was pleased. 

He‘s nearly half way through the wheat, with only another 260ha (650 acres) to do.