"Winter work is well behind usual with fields still too wet to even do winter ploughing and the snow when it melts will just add to bad field conditions. We have had some wheat moved off the farm recently and it is notable that a bucket or two extra is needed to get the weight onto the lorries compared with normal.

"We are nearly two years into the Monitor Farm project.  We have a good group going and meetings are lively with lots of decisions on all aspects of growing crops and running a farming business. One project which started after a Monitor Farm meeting was for a new grain dryer. We are waiting on planning permission just now for the new grain store that is to house the dryer and biomass boiler.  We have decisions to make as to what type of boiler to put in, whether it will be a straw burner, wood or wood chip, each have their good and bad points and the level of input required from me will be on the loading and monitoring of heat produced.

"Last week, I was in Belfast at the Agronomy and Business Management Conference for Arable Growers CAFRE and had the opportunity to talk to the delegates about the monitor farm project and winter grain yields and what I see we can do to ensure high yields. The conference was very well attended with around 230 farmers and agronomists. This was more than I was expecting and was certainly the biggest crowd that I have spoken to, which just put me out with my comfort zone. I was told that being the Monitor Farmer would challenge me and it certainly has.

"In preparing for last week's presentation, it gave me time to have a look at the results of last year's harvest. We tried a lot of different chemical combinations over the T1 and T2 timings with no real difference between using new and old chemistry with perhaps the latter having the edge but, in such a bad year weather wise, we really didn't learn very much.  We also tried variable rate nitrogen applications last year but I'm not sure it was a good year as a trial but as I think a lot of the nitrogen applied wasn't used properly by the crop.  I think we will try again this year and, hopefully, it will be more successful.

"This was the first year that we have sown all of the wheat using variable seed rates dependent on soil texture and expected establishment rates. I think, looking at the fields now, I am glad we did as some of the heaviest land that in other wet years struggles badly with slugs and water logging, has wheat growing at a reasonable number of plants per meter square.  This is not saying that everything is looking good as the headlands are looking a bit patchy.  I had hoped we would get a dry spell this side of New Year to allow us to sow a bit more wheat but it is not looking likely just now.  The spring sowing is going to be larger than usual here and in nearly all farms in the eastern borders so I will finish with hope of an early spring to allow field work to be caught up with."

Author: Alistair Hodge, A & J Farm, the Borders

For more information on HGCA Arable Monitor Farms visit the Monitor Farm page

Views are not representative of HGCA.

30th December 2013


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