This is the best time of year on the farm. Fields are full of potential, we have long evenings, and the stress of harvest is not imminent! The sunshine has been very beneficial for crops and will help grain fill, hopefully assisting the potential that this growing season has created. Final doses of nitrogen have gone on milling wheats. The aim of the final dose is to push up protein levels to achieve milling spec, which is +13% protein. We use two methods to achieve this, one is applying solid fertiliser and the other is applying liquid fertiliser through the sprayer. We have had success with both methods in previous years, however, the dry spell this year may have limited uptake of the solid fertiliser.

Thoughts are now turning to harvest and whether fields are desiccated. A couple of weeks of sunshine has driven the winter barleys to a point where they will largely be ready to desiccate next week. The signs of a ready crop are that the grain is hard enough that you can’t squish it between your fingertips, but just soft enough to take a dent from a thumb nail. The other key sign is that top centimetre or two of the stems immediately below the ear will turn from green to yellow, at this point there is no longer any nutrient flow into the ear so the crop may as well be sprayed off. Desiccation helps to even up the field along with preventing late regrowth and assists combining.

Once we’ve sprayed off the start of harvest is set for 2 weeks’ time. With that date in mind, we must finalise preparations on the farm. Stores will be cleaned, and machines readied. Careful thought must be put in to ensure that we are ready since once harvest starts, we become incredibly busy and there is no let up until it is over! Now is the time to have some R&R as well. It is very important to go into harvest feeling well rested, and now is a popular time for arable farmers to take time off, maybe even get away from the farm for a bit.

I hope harvest preparation is going well for everyone at Camgrain. As farmers we look forward harvest and it is always exciting to finally see whether the crops that we have nursed since autumn last year can pay their way!



Finally good luck to those taking on the Three Peaks Challenge. Looks like you’ll have cracking weather for it.

Winter barley ready for desiccation: