Farmer Focus: Spring cereal yields are disappointing

In my previous article for this revered magazine I urged you to look at my forthcoming August submission when I would be complaining about the terrible wet weather that we had been having.

I can only apologise if you have had a wetter than normal harvest, it is quite obviously all my fault. My prediction has come back to haunt me and you too, I suspect.

See also: Why blackgrass is so bad in 2023 and what to do about it

About the author

John Pawsey

Arable Farmer Focus writer John Pawsey is an organic farmer at Shimpling Park in Suffolk. He started converting the 650ha of arable cropping in 1999, and also contract farms an additional 915ha organically, growing wheat, barley, oats, beans and spelt.

Read more articles by John Pawsey

The beginning of the month dealt us 50mm of rain, but as I write the sun is shining and the tracks are turning.

The first crop to be ready was our Laureate spring barley, followed shortly by Isabel spring oats, which we are breaking the back of now and by the end of the week we will be into our wheat and bean/wheat bi-crop.

Spring cereal yields have been disappointing, but their winter cousins are looking more promising.

Field conditions have been tough for our harvesting team, with damp soils in short spring crops.

Regular emptying of the harvester’s stone trap and daily prodding dirt out of the concave has meant a few late starts, but we have taken every opportunity so far, starting whenever the intended crop gets below 20% moisture.

Regular grain store inspections, tinkering with the humidistat and continual adjustments to our ventilated floors, mean that everything is under control, so far. There I go again, famous last words.

Alongside gathering our crops, Amanda in the farm office has been battling with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) over our new Countryside Stewardship application and the legacy of our old Environmental Scheme (ES).

We can’t seem to shake off our 10-year-old options of OHF1s and OHE3s (if you know, you know) with the RPA refusing to give those areas back, soothing us with the mantra: “The eligible area has been reduced due to ES agreements”.

Apparently we are not the only ones.