Finishing spring barley at Oldmeldrum
Richard Stephen hopes to finish combining spring barley today (16 September) at Muirton of Barra, Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire.
“We got back on combining yesterday, and it’s dry at the moment, but it doesn’t look very promising for the weekend,” he said.
“We’re just finishing the spring barley, but we haven’t cut any wheat yet – we’re about 10 days behind normal.”
However, the 80ha (200 acres) of wheat was only just ripe, so had not come to any damage in the wet and windy weather.
“Yields have been pretty good – it’s just been difficult getting anything cut.”
Oxbridge had yielded about 7.4t/ha (3t/acre) at 1.6% nitrogen, with Propino at over 7.4t/ha and up to 1.85% nitrogen.
“The bulk of the barley has gone for malting, although we’ve kept the higher nitrogen stuff as feed.”
Retriever winter barley had also yielded well, at 8.9t/ha (3.6t/acre), with oilseed rape at 4.4t/ha (1.8t/acre).
“We’ve got all the oilseed rape drilled, although some of it was later than we’d like, and about half the winter barley is in now, too.
“Ground conditions aren’t too bad – we have a four-wheel drive combine, which has been fine; it’s just the trailers that have got stuck a bit.”
Crop: Spring barley
Variety: Oxbridge
Yield: 7.4t/ha (3t/acre)
Variety: Propino
Yield: >7.4t/ha (3t/acre)
Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Retriever
Yield: 8.9t/ha (3.6t/acre)
