Harvest has progressed well here in west Norfolk, although it has been slightly delayed, with crops slower to mature than in recent years.

Despite some cabbage stem flea beetle losses, the oilseed rape crop averaged 3.6t/ha over the weighbridge, with one block of high erucic acid rape achieving above 4t/ha.

Winter barley has been disappointing, having suffered with the wet winter and dull spring. Very little is planned in my rotations for 2025 and beyond.  

Spring barley has been a delight to cut and the standout crop so far. We’ve averaged 6.7t/ha overall with most blocks achieving 7t/ha. The odd heroic field has even surpassed a chest-beating 8t/ha.

See also: Video: Classic machinery brings in the spring barley harvest

About the author

Robert Scott

Robert Scott farms 1,450ha of arable in mid-west Norfolk for seven different landowners. He grows combinable crops and sugar beet together with cover crops, grass leys and extensive countryside stewardship schemes. He also finishes 2,000 lambs a year. robert@thscottandson.co.uk Instagram: @thscottandson

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I have struggled to get to grips with growing barley, but I think early planting and new establishment techniques are really starting to pay dividends. The straw yields so far have also been strong, with 4t/ha moved and sold over the weighbridge.

A new combine and a new driver have increased our output significantly. Positive people who know what they are doing are hard to find. Those that can problem solve, and treat your machinery like their own, are even scarcer.

I am finding this harvest much less stressful and, dare I say it, I’m beginning to really enjoy my work. I owe that to the attitude of the harvest team, and particularly our new combine driver, Tim.

We are one of the 600 new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2024 applications the Rural Payments Agency has already received.

Our options were limited due to two existing Mid Tier schemes. SFI has added approximately £65/ha, which is neither here nor there given the compliance, extra work and risk to yield. Uncoupled support will be a challenge.

I had hoped to use herbal leys to build fertility and better integrate my sheep. But alas, at the time of application herbal leys were not rotational. This is being revised, but it is too late for me without re-applying.

The direct drilling option is also too restrictive to comply with in our rotation, despite our business being an early adopter of this approach for some crops. 

Sadly, SFI has turned out to be a damp squib. What an overcomplicated missed opportunity.