Harvest started on 11 July. Barley, oilseed rape and winter linseed are now all finished, with yields variable but pleasing, considering how dry it has been since March.

Unfortunately, by the time you read this we could also be very close to starting on the wheat, the high temperatures of the past couple of weeks haven’t helped crops that were already struggling.

Winter beans are dying off fast, so it looks like it could be the fourth year in the past five that I have cut winter beans in July.

See also: Why OSR growers are enthusiastic in a high-cost season

About the author

Matt Redman

Farmer Focus writer

Matt Redman farms 370ha just north of Cambridge and operates a contracting business specialising in spraying and direct-drilling. He also grows cereals on a small area of tenancy land and was Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year in 2014.

Contact:

Email: office@mattredmanag.co.uk

X: http://www.twitter.com/@redmanmatt

Read more articles by Matt Redman

I should apologise for the dry weather after buying a dryer for this harvest, and then a weather station.

Luckily, a dryer is about the only piece of machinery anyone purchases and doesn’t mind not using – about the only other thing I can think of is a fire extinguisher.

Farming is becoming increasingly challenging from almost every perspective, whether it is input prices or availability, machinery parts or lead times on new kit, the weather (nothing new there) or staff availability.

Every decision that has to be made can now have significantly different financial consequences if made in the morning or in the afternoon, let alone a week apart.

It is becoming increasingly impossible to budget sensibly, without wildly inaccurate guesses both positively and negatively. It adds a whole extra level to the job.

Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire NFU hosted another joint annual health and safety event just before harvest and it was great to see it well attended yet again.

With the added pressures forced on to us by the challenges just mentioned, it can be tempting to cut corners or rush things, but no matter how important the job or the saving, it is not worth the risk of doing something dangerously.

It could end up much worse and there are already enough case studies to prove it without making yourself one.

For harvest, we’ve adopted a simple rule of hi-vis shirts/jumpers.

These make you more visible and they also serve as a simple, clear and easy-to-see safety reminder – not only to those wearing them, but also anyone they come into contact with.