We sowed our oilseed rape midway through August. This was contrary to some advice that mid-September plantings have been giving the best yields and missing most flea beetle.

My reasoning is that it worked well for us this year (absolutely no guarantee of future success in farming, I know) when backed up with several mono-silicic acid treatments.

We also had a little moisture with more forecast and, with the oilseed rape land blocks nestled in between shaves, houses and roads, later drilling could well lock in a long winter of pigeon chasing.

See also: Harvest 24: Milling wheats struggle to hit protein specs

About the author

Andy Barr

Andy Barr farms 320ha in mid-Kent, aiming to farm as regeneratively as possible. He stopped ploughing 25 years ago and over this time restructured the business with less land farmed and increased the use of contractors, environmental areas and diversification projects.

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As proof of one size not fitting all, I hear others have ground cover already after late July planting.

Another green light is that my new Magic Scout flea beetle trap, purchased via United Oilseeds, and indeed the company’s national network of traps, have not so far picked up any great migration of the pest.

The magic is that it sends me pictures of the yellow water trap and even recognises and counts the beetles for me.

Unfortunately, I haven’t needed any such sorcery to detect slugs because, as if their threat to the tiny oilseed rape wasn’t enough, they’ve taken to mass gatherings on my patio in a blatant attempt to trip me up when I walk out the door in the morning.

I’ve been retaliating on the quad bike.

I’m also having fun on the straw baling rollercoaster. I bale some, but not all of the cereal prior to oilseed rape for my brother’s cows.

When we come to direct drill with a tined drill, I wonder why I didn’t just bale it all, as it makes it much easier.

However, soon after, when the areas with chopped straw on them have beaten the rest through the ground due to superior moisture retention, I wonder why I didn’t chop it all.

Later, when the baled areas appear to overtake the chopped, presumably due to some nutrient lock up, I flip-flop again.