How wet would you think was reasonable to cut?

[Farmer Dod]

We were slashing down wheat on Sunday at 21% because Bertha was coming and it was the right decision as we got hit hard and wont be cutting for days yet. Only wish we started earlier that morning. I hope to wait till its below 20% before we start again but we'll see.

Knocked down last of OSR in between showers on Monday and Tuesday. Lost a bit but couldn't believe how rape that was still more than a week from being fit was shedding like anything- stalks were far too green. It was the wind not the rain the did more damage for us. When we were cutting you thought someone was underneath the stand shaking it for all they were worth.

 

[Jim Bullock]

Done 25 acres this evening coming in at 16.5%mc... might be dry but crap yield 6.25 tons/ha... Invicta has let us down badly this year.

 

[TheEarlOfMoray]

We were slashing down wheat on Sunday at 21% because Bertha was coming and it was the right decision as we got hit hard and wont be cutting for days yet. Only wish we started earlier that morning. I hope to wait till its below 20% before we start again but we'll see.

We should have done the same but hindsight is a great thing.

 

[Fish]

With wheat starting to shed here, patience just went out off the window.

 

[ORRA LOON]

I came back from spraying tatties at lunch time and had an argument with granda. Start now he said the forecasts awful, calm down I said these storms usually miss us, it will be fine. I cana be right all the time.

 

[DRC]

With wheat starting to shed here, patience just went out off the window.

Any particular variety that's starting to shed ?

 

[MrNoo]

Had a load off this afternoon, 19%, next door were cutting yesterday (mine wheat tested at 25%) and started at 9-30 this morn, I guess it's milling. Prefer to cut at max circa 17 as only one pass through the drier then. As others have said it's worth bugger all and early yet. Although with a good bit of wind and some sun it dries out fairly quickly, we had over 25mm of rain over the weekend and heavy showers yesterday her, was surprised how low it tested this afternoon to be honest.

 

[Nick.]

Trying to stick to 17% at the moment.
Did about 10acres this afternoon before the heavens opened again.
I wonder how long 17% will be the target as this next block is due for rape and is to be baled.

 

[jakeboy]

Could someone remind me of the date .
It's not even middle of August yet .
The stuffs worth bugger all, so why the rush to spend a fortune drying it .
Often cut wheat in a nice week in September , learn some patience .

We cut spring wheat last year 7 October,not unusual here on mendip hills at this altitude,patience patience patience,

 

[Chae1]

was cutting at 25 per cent on Sunday morning. its coming in at 18 tonight!

 

[Sandy]

was cutting at 25 per cent on Sunday morning. its coming in at 18 tonight!

Can't see us going again for a week it's just dubs

 

[Chae1]

Next field has some wet bits. Be interesting to see if combine stays up. no 4wd.

 

[TheEarlOfMoray]

Can't see us going again for a week it's just dubs

Same. Forecast is either rain or showers for the next 9 days.

 

[blackbob]

Needs must and when you get into October it doesn't matter if it's in the 30's as long as it'll go through combine when you're in the last of the wheat.

Is sprouting going to be the next problem for you Moray lads?

Would it have been '97 or '98, it had been a dry summer and the early guys had just started on their spring barley, and it came a helluva lot of rain (like this week), and the barley ears sprouted and had roots an inch long? It all went straight through the combine and the cows enjoyed picking the heads out of the straw in the winter. Never seen barley like that, before or since.
The difference then was that it was very warm while it was raining, kinda thundery for several days, but this week has been cold, more like September.
@Farmer Dod you will remember that, you're more, er, mature

 

[beltbreaker]

Concerto starting to sprout here in the beds, pre germination maybe the next problem. Was 24% and I was getting excited before we had another 3 mm today. Its sold well and I would sooner pay £20 a tonne to dry it than get f all for feed! Friday now by the looks of it.


Cheers BB

 

[Davos]

I remember 91 or 92 our next door neighbour who was a queer old stick would'nt let the contractor start cutting his wheat until the 1st September.Shortly after it started to rain,and it rained and rained, when they could get on the wheat was so wet they had to use a brush handle in the combine tank to help get it to go through the auger.
In the trailer it looked like the Himalayas the heap was so high.

 

[Farmer Dod]

Remember 85 and the struggles that presented. As soon it was fit there would be a mad splatter to get the combines going and more often than not the rain would soon appear. Seem to remember that it improved in September and Dad says the tatties were a doddle to lift(those that hadn't been burned off early due to blight). Also remember 97 and how it affected quality. Was working with a grain company in Angus at the time and saw a sample of wheat from Buchan that had a bushel weight of 47. Once it starts sprouting bushel weight and yield start dropping. Better a few more £ spent on drying than a poor sample with deductions later.

And Black Bob I only left primary school in 1985 so I'm not that old. If I appear older then all I can say is that we have a hard life in this part of Aberdeenshire.

 

[Chae1]

Could someone remind me of the date .
It's not even middle of August yet .
The stuffs worth bugger all, so why the rush to spend a fortune drying it .
Often cut wheat in a nice week in September , learn some patience .

well a fair bit of ours is on the ground already. Heads broken off. So don't want to lose anymore. Have spent a fortune on chemicals and fert growing it so would rather have it in shed than on ground. Thats why we are in a rush.

 

[glasshouse]

Would it have been '97 or '98, it had been a dry summer and the early guys had just started on their spring barley, and it came a helluva lot of rain (like this week), and the barley ears sprouted and had roots an inch long? It all went straight through the combine and the cows enjoyed picking the heads out of the straw in the winter. Never seen barley like that, before or since.
The difference then was that it was very warm while it was raining, kinda thundery for several days, but this week has been cold, more like September.
@Farmer Dod you will remember that, you're more, er, mature

It was 1995. i finished on 30th august, and it then rained for 3 weeks.
The wheat grew in the head and was just rubbish.
Pre rain returns were £600/ acre
post rain return was £200/acre
local estate had 600 acres out.
this yrs wheat round here has been steamrollered flat over the weekend, sprouting, splitting, low hagberg, its all happening.
cutting wheat today, 25%

 

[glasshouse]

Concerto starting to sprout here in the beds, pre germination maybe the next problem. Was 24% and I was getting excited before we had another 3 mm today. Its sold well and I would sooner pay £20 a tonne to dry it than get f all for feed! Friday now by the looks of it.


Cheers BB

beds?