Farmer Focus: Worst harvest in 35 years of farm management
© Tim Scrivener Although harvest 2024 isn’t quite complete, I can safely say its been one of the worst in my 35 years of farm management.
Yield maps quite simply could be drainage maps. Slightly lighter well-drained clays all hit target yields but the moment we moved onto lower lying poorer-drained clays the yields fell away dramatically.
Waterlogged fields resulted in poor rooting and anaerobic conditions. To add insult to injury, as predicted, a late flush of blackgrass thrived and increased yield pressures yet again.
See also: How winter cover crops affect soil nitrogen supply
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Considering it was a relatively dry harvest we seem to have dried more than 50% and its looking likely the last of the beans will need to be dried, diluting any margins even further.
On the whole, frontline machinery has stood up well. The combine had a few niggles, but back-up from B&B Tractors and Fendt has been superb as usual.
The Redekop Seed Control Unit never missed a beat and results will be fascinating as we’ve put a large number of brome and blackgrass seed through it.
The Fendt 1050 has also put a trouble-free shift in. Soil conditions have been challenging to say the least.
Excessive rainfall over the last 10 months has made low disturbance subsoiling essential and mole ploughing conditions have been challenging.
Moisture levels at mole depth have been perfect although the top 150mm has been like concrete.
NUM3 Sustainable Farming Incentive options have just been drilled into dry seed-beds but with rain on the horizon they’ll be fine.
Winter bird feed options drilled back in the spring look superb, and are a good option on marginal land.
Stale seedbeds are looking challenging with literally no volunteers or grassweeds germinating.
Even winter barley stubbles harvested in mid-July still have not greened up, so drilling after barley may be delayed.
Finally, I would like to thank the team for all their hard work and dedication over the last few months, it’s been testing but everyone has risen to the challenges with the usual skill and determination.
