Mixed harvest at Ranby Hall
Harvest has been a mixed bag at Ranby Hall, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, with yields ranging from very poor to above average.
“Overall, it’s probably been an average year,” said Jonathan Booth.
Wheat yielded between 7.4t/ha and 12.3t/ha (3-5t/acre), with Oakley outperforming Grafton, Diego and Denman.
“The light Wold yields were very poor, but heavy land was very good. Luckily, we had a bit of rain in April and May, which saved the day.
“Also, after last year we went in with a higher seed rate, which meant we kept a good number of heads in the spring despite tiller loss.”
Farmers still had 10-20% of wheat left to cut in the area, especially on the Wolds, said Mr Booth.
But he had finished combining, with oilseed rape now drilled and emerged.
“The weather had been very unsettled over the past week, which has delayed anyone with crops still to cut.”
Excalibur, Cabernet and Sesame oilseed rape had yielded well, at 2.5-6.2t/ha (1-2.5t/acre).
“The conventional varieties outyielded the hybrid Excalibur, which was interesting.”
Suzuka winter barley also did well as a second cereal, yielding 9.3t/ha (3.75t/acre), he added.
“We’ll start lifting sugar beet next week, and that looks good. Hopefully it won’t get attacked by the frost like it did last year.”
Crop: Winter wheat
Varieties: Oakley, Grafton, Diego and Denman.
Yield: 7.4-12.3t/ha (3-5t/acre)
Crop: Oilseed rape
Varieties: Excalibur, Cabernet and Sesame
Yield: 2.5-6.2t/ha (1-2.5t/acre)
Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Suzuka
Yield: 9.3t/ha (3.75t/acre)
