Got much drilling to do?

[bovrill]

Having said that, it's been far from dry for the last four years, and it's soil that suffers badly if we get any more than about 15" rainfall in a year.
An inch stops field work for a week in the summer, and stops us for the winter when it comes late in the autumn.

 

[Iben]

Having said that, it's been far from dry for the last four years, and it's soil that suffers badly if we get any more than about 15" rainfall in a year.
An inch stops field work for a week in the summer, and stops us for the winter when it comes late in the autumn.

15"! Blimey. We get near twice that. Some times in the year it's to much, other times its not enough.

 

[bovrill]

15"! Blimey. We get near twice that. Some times in the year it's to much, other times its not enough.

We used to reckon on that being about our annual average, (see the Farming Diary YouTube clip on various threads on here about John Muirhead over the last few weeks). That worked well for us.
In '95/'96 we had about 21" in 24 months, and that was great, and in '76 we had a little over 9" in 12 months in Southminster (that's where we're in the record books for being the driest), but that was a bit too dry!
We've had a couple of 30" years just recently, and it's been horrible.

 

[franklin]

Our "average" rainfall is something like 650mm.
In an average year, its wet and sticky.
15" would do nicely. Thats a total though - not what I want for August.

 

[franklin]

Spring oats being drilled today. One day earlier than when they were drilled in 2014!

 

[Iben]

Would be happy if it never rained from mid November to mid February, but it does, so that's 10" of excess rain that just runs straight into the sea. It's what comes through the summer that's important.

 

[Brisel]

Spring oats being drilled today. One day earlier than when they were drilled in 2014!

How did they yield in 2014?

 

[Wombat]

We need very little in spring and summer as our soil holds a massive amount of moisture, so anything under average here is treated with corks popping

 

[franklin]

How did they yield in 2014?

Did ok. About 3t/ac. Better last year. In 2014 they were a bit thin, so we have upped seed rate, and applying all the fert in the seedbed. They are a cheap crop, so costs need to be kept under control. Seed + cleaning + royalties + urea + blw spray and some incredibly cheap fungicides for mildew. I think they are our lowest input crop.

 

[Right-arm fast]

Our "average" rainfall is something like 650mm.
In an average year, its wet and sticky.
15" would do nicely. Thats a total though - not what I want for August.

That's when half of it will come, that's just when the combine goes into the wheat here. August was a monsoon last year. 15 inches here would do nicely too. Its about 24-26 though off the top of my head.

 

[Right-arm fast]

Down to my last 170 acres of spring barley, so the end is near, its definitely been emotional spring.

Hows it going in ? Are you happy with it? Ours is going in ok in most fields, but the grounds still cold.

 

[robbie]

For everyone who would like less rain then feel free to send me your surplus because although it's been wet, from now until August I'll be glad of everydrop.

 

[franklin]

Oats in. Linseed seed arrives (!) tomorrow. Forecast a bit variable, but with a fair wind we will be done this week. Although probably too cold for anything to do much.

 

[Big-Al]

How have you got on with the drill? Have you had to do anything after it to close the slots? What are your thoughts at this stage?

Hows it going in ? Are you happy with it? Ours is going in ok in most fields, but the grounds still cold.

Sorry so long to reply cant multi task and drill at the same time, down to our last 100 acres now, the drill has been fine, but were the black grass has been the slots are more open but no seed showing, not sure if i have enough pressure on the guttlers but i do have weights at 5.5 kg on them too so should be fine, the max speed i have been drilling is 13 kph and through wet holes a bit faster, we have rolled 110 acres of the 500 acres drilled so far this has defiantly closed the slot more but it is also right by the main road and farm, and my neighbours 15 pass min till "show barley" (which has come up looking sickeningly great ), i am generally pleased with the 750a drill should of had one 10 years ago so easy to use and if you have a wet spot which i have had a few, go back a few days later and slot it in with no mess at all, it needs a bigger hopper as i can only get 1300kg in the tank could do with 2000kg ish.
The ground is still cold i know, but has gone in well so i know we will have a crop to combine, as i said in a previous post we drilled ours last year on the 18th April and it combined out at 3.3 tons sannete spring barley, i have sannete again and irina this year drilling depth 1.3/4 inch in metric is about 35 mm i think

Regards Big Al.

 

[Spud]

Oats in (bar wet holes) two days ago, by dynadriving the stubble a couple of breezy days before drilling with the new combi, would of rolled nicely today...except it snowed yesterday afternoon!
Barley gone in over the last week, and a bit of spring wheat for a neighbour. Mostly into ploughing, some on ripped up beet land from last season. Dried by a mixture of dynadrive and Simba TL. Beans before that with the Kockerling.
25ac of beet to drill on land that needs to dry. Bloody wet again now!

 

[Iben]

Well done! Making good progress.

Are you happy with new combi?
It does help having lots of different equipment to give you options for each field.
Forecast not good for tonight but hopefully improving next week.

 

[Spud]

Well done! Making good progress.

Are you happy with new combi?
It does help having lots of different equipment to give you options for each field.
Forecast not good for tonight but hopefully improving next week.

Very happy with combi to press, as ever, theres odd elements that could be better - like the roll over sheet thats a reasonable enough design, but any clart stuck to the top can finish up in the tank when you unroll it, and I far prefer screw adjusters to messing on with pins and holes on the clod board, but fundamentally its great. Dealer support very good too.
Some of our cultivation kit can be a bit nettle bed, but you are dead right, it gives options in delicate going - the oats would still be in the bag if we hadn't been able to scruff it up with the ddrive first, just a shame it was too tacky to roll. Got pre em to go on barley, so this rain can do one!!

 

[Chae1]

Still over 100 acres to go in. Forecast going forward has no light at the end of the tunnel. Cold and wet/snow.

 

[Iben]

Still over 100 acres to go in. Forecast going forward has no light at the end of the tunnel. Cold and wet/snow.

Is that any different from normal for you anyway?

 

[Clive]

Got finished on linseed yesterday

All spring crops have gone into lovely conditions mostly after covers

It's cold still though !