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help when it comes to drying and storing it. The oilseed rape was also cut at low moistures of 6-11pc and averaged at just over the 2 mt per acre.
We struggled to get the oilseed rape up from the tram lines and into the header, as they were bent over so far.
I wonder would our yield be slightly better if we included all the losses from that. It looked well and very clean compared to other years.
I think cutting it at such low moistures meant that the combine could trash it better than it normally does.
The winter wheat crop looks very mixed with some much larger seed than others. Hopefully we can get these in with low moistures too. However the recent heavy rain is making that a real challenge.
The JB Diego in continuous fields was cut first at 16-18pc moisture and did just over the 4 mt per acre.
We have heard reports in our area that JB Diego hasn’t done as well as other years. Some of the newer varieties like Garrus and Costello have done far better. We haven’t cut our Costello yet so it will be interesting to see what the difference is.
The stop start nature of this years harvest is making it more difficult for anyone waiting for a contractor. The price of straw seemed to have calmed down and then took another jump. I have heard anything from €12-€18 for a 4x4 round bale leaving the field.
Philip and Helen Harris are tillage farmers in Co Kildare. Follow them on Twitter: P&H Harris @kildarefarmer ÷It’s full steam ahead with harvest. Finish cutting the wheat ÷Direct drill the oilseed rape as soon as we can ÷Start ploughing and then cut the beans in mid to late September