Late June/July is the time for rogueing wild oats and using our Bionalan weed cutter for those fields that are uneconomic to hand pull.

In addition, our bi-crop of lentils and camelina grown for Hodmedods has just had its first hoe and will probably get another before we call it a day pre-harvest.

Other than that, this time of year is pretty relaxed, with crops waiting for harvest and lambs busily fattening on our fertility leys.

See also: Defra to launch 23 actions under SFI 2023 from August

About the author

John Pawsey

Arable Farmer Focus writer John Pawsey is an organic farmer at Shimpling Park in Suffolk. He started converting the 650ha of arable cropping in 1999, and also contract farms an additional 915ha organically, growing wheat, barley, oats, beans and spelt.

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We’ve also had a decent amount of rain now to see us through until the combine gets into the fields, which is a blessed relief.

May I urge you to look at my forthcoming August submission when I will be complaining about the terrible wet weather that we have been having.

The matter that has been getting most of my attention lately is the deadline for our Countryside Stewardship (CS) application on 18 August.

Everything has been slightly thrown up in the air with the recent Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) update, which, on first read, looks like an improved offer in terms of the flexibility when comparing with similar options that fit into our organic rotation under CS.

It looks far more attractive when considering grazing animals and an organic rotation.

The current plan is that under SFI we will be concentrating on multispecies leguminous leys, cover crops, undersowing, no insecticides, bicropping, flower-rich margins and blocks.

We will revert to CS for low-input harvested cereals and rotational management of organic arable and grassland.

Compared to what we were getting paid for environmental delivery under our extended Environmental Stewardship agreement, things have improved markedly in financial terms. I’m actually feeling very enthusiastic about it all.

Extra curricular activities this month have included a family holiday and the whole Shimpling Park Farm team descending on Groundswell with camping passes.

It was the best event to date. Challenging and inspiring speakers while still very much keeping its festival vibe.

Cracking set by Andy Cato from Groove Armada on Wednesday night. Sore heads on Thursday morning. Result.