The "I've not started yet" thread

[DrWazzock]

Not started yet. Spring barley and winter wheat. Nearly started the spring barley on Friday but felt there was too much green in it though a lot of it is dead fit. A bit wary after last years sweating heap. As rain was forecast I decided to refurb the chopper. Waiting for parts now, which will bring on a dry spell. Winter wheat still a fortnight away. Direct drilled stuff into sprayed off grass ley will need a hefty dose of glyphosate soon. It looks like a neglected hay field. Also wiring up some sockets for pile dry type fans in the temporary store to hopefully cool the heap and buy us time to get it into the slow old permanent system. I’m very very sceptical that a pedestal every 6m will achieve anything more than a bigger electricity bill but it feels like we are trying.

 

[David.]

They should stop it going mouldy.

 

[FarmerBruce]

Not started yet. Spring barley and winter wheat. Nearly started the spring barley on Friday but felt there was too much green in it though a lot of it is dead fit. A bit wary after last years sweating heap. As rain was forecast I decided to refurb the chopper. Waiting for parts now, which will bring on a dry spell. Winter wheat still a fortnight away. Direct drilled stuff into sprayed off grass ley will need a hefty dose of glyphosate soon. It looks like a neglected hay field. Also wiring up some sockets for pile dry type fans in the temporary store to hopefully cool the heap and buy us time to get it into the slow old permanent system. I’m very very sceptical that a pedestal every 6m will achieve anything more than a bigger electricity bill but it feels like we are trying.

You need them every 3 meters

 

[Wilberforce]

Not started yet. Spring barley and winter wheat. Nearly started the spring barley on Friday but felt there was too much green in it though a lot of it is dead fit. A bit wary after last years sweating heap. As rain was forecast I decided to refurb the chopper. Waiting for parts now, which will bring on a dry spell. Winter wheat still a fortnight away. Direct drilled stuff into sprayed off grass ley will need a hefty dose of glyphosate soon. It looks like a neglected hay field. Also wiring up some sockets for pile dry type fans in the temporary store to hopefully cool the heap and buy us time to get it into the slow old permanent system. I’m very very sceptical that a pedestal every 6m will achieve anything more than a bigger electricity bill but it feels like we are trying.

Closely spaced pedestals in shallow heaped grain can and do work wonders.

 

[4course]

Closely spaced pedestals in shallow heaped grain can and do work wonders.

tin sided grain store in conjuction with sun and regularly moving spears and a lorry sheet works here as an effective drying /conditioning system if ripe and below 18% to start with

 

[B'o'B]

Not started yet. Spring barley and winter wheat. Nearly started the spring barley on Friday but felt there was too much green in it though a lot of it is dead fit. A bit wary after last years sweating heap. As rain was forecast I decided to refurb the chopper. Waiting for parts now, which will bring on a dry spell. Winter wheat still a fortnight away. Direct drilled stuff into sprayed off grass ley will need a hefty dose of glyphosate soon. It looks like a neglected hay field. Also wiring up some sockets for pile dry type fans in the temporary store to hopefully cool the heap and buy us time to get it into the slow old permanent system. I’m very very sceptical that a pedestal every 6m will achieve anything more than a bigger electricity bill but it feels like we are trying.

A row of pallets or 2 down the barn topped with hessian (or fine insect netting) + a fan works really well for getting air right through a heap.

 

[bankrupt]

Should be starting up here properly for the first time Tuesday - flat oats first then on to standing wheat, Thursday.

The dozen dry days now forecast for us being just the ticket - fortunately, the wheat grains seem all a bit on the thin side this time so should dry really quickly.

Weather North Tawton

North Tawton Weather Forecast. Access detailed hourly and 14 day forecasts, current conditions, maps, warnings, meteograms, historical data and more for North Tawton

www.yourweather.co.uk

 

[B'o'B]

This is what we use to cool and condition grain heaps with a fan on the front sucking air through.

 

[Sonoftheheir]

We’d be getting that cut up here at that moisture!!!

Wouldnt cut over 16 here, that’s as long as we know we’d get some lower to mix in. Don’t want to mess about with drying.

 

[wuddy]

Wouldnt cut over 16 here, that’s as long as we know we’d get some lower to mix in. Don’t want to mess about with drying.

If you waited for that up here you wouldn’t have much if anything in your stores!!!

 

[JCfarmer]

This is what we use to cool and condition grain heaps with a fan on the front sucking air through. View attachment 978633

Was that shed once a silage clamp? I have a grain store with concrete like that which was and now converted. New layer of concrete to go on next year.(been saying that for 3 years now)
What fan and how do you seal it at the front? A plastic sheet as long as the grain is high/tall for the last bit?

 

[B'o'B]

Was that shed once a silage clamp? I have a grain store with concrete like that which was and now converted. New layer of concrete to go on next year.(been saying that for 3 years now)
What fan and how do you seal it at the front? A plastic sheet as long as the grain is high/tall for the last bit?

Yes, ex-silage barn. We have been having similar conversations about the floor. We netted the Yorkshire boarding sides and fitted a curtain net door which kept the birds out and RT happy until a couple of years ago, but it has now been downgraded to temporary storage as the wording of the standards for grain store construction changed.
We lay plastic sheets on top of the last couple of pallets at toe of the heap (still using our stock of old 1 ctw blue fert bags!) and then lay some plastic sheet on top of the grain from the toe of to were the grain is a decent depth. I’ll put up a photo of the fans later.

 

[Jimdog1]

Should be starting up here properly for the first time Tuesday - flat oats first then on to standing wheat, Thursday.

The dozen dry days now forecast for us being just the ticket - fortunately, the wheat grains seem all a bit on the thin side this time so should dry really quickly.

Weather North Tawton

North Tawton Weather Forecast. Access detailed hourly and 14 day forecasts, current conditions, maps, warnings, meteograms, historical data and more for North Tawton

www.yourweather.co.uk

I often drive through North Tawton - I guess that you are not farming either side of the Torrington road.

 

[B'o'B]

Fans for the bigger heaps

 

[B'o'B]

For smaller heaps

 

[Spencer]

View attachment 978891View attachment 978892
For smaller heaps

I do hope you haven’t any copyright protection

 

[Nearly]

Closely spaced pedestals in shallow heaped grain can and do work wonders.

Cut a bit last week. Borrowed a couple of hot spot spears for my first solo harvest in 20 years. Soon have it below 16.

 

[bankrupt]

not farming either side of the Torrington road.

The bit we're struggling badly with at the moment is a couple of miles south of North Tawton, towards the A30.

 

[Jimdog1]

The bit we're struggling badly with at the moment is a couple of miles south of North Tawton, towards the A30.

Gotcha. Bit nearer the moor.

 

[bankrupt]

Gotcha. Bit nearer the moor.

That's a big part of the problem

Winter oats being the crop of the year, only for rain on every one of the last 19 days to make their harvesting a bit tricky.