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Archived News
14th August 2011
After animals were checked first thing this morning, all work was suspended for four hours as the Olympic practice, cycle event took place alongside the farm. Spectators were entertained by at least fifty motorcycle outriders and then the cyclists went by in a flash!
A breakaway group of four cyclists; 6 minutes ahead of the main group
We are approximately half way through harvest, with a mixed bag of results so far. The oilseed rape yields were reasonably good at 1.8 – 1.9 tonnes/acre. Of more than 600 tonnes, 350 Tonnes have already been sold. The oilseed rape straw has been baled and sold for processing into horse bedding.
After a break of two days (from combining, not work!), Laurence moved on to harvesting the Gallant variety of milling wheat. 50 acres at Silent Pool yielded 3.5 tonnes/acres and 110 acres at Whitedown had a fairly good yield of 3-3.5 tonnes/acre.
The same variety of wheat is being harvested today on the dry sandy soil at Manor Farm. This crop was severely affected by drought earlier in the year resulting in a stunted crop just over a foot tall; it should be about 2’6”.
Harvest is the most intense time of year on the farm, with long hours for staff and machinery alike, and although unwelcome, machinery breakdowns are inevitable. Fortunately the combine harvester has only had one major stop this season, when elevator chains snapped. It took Laurence two hours to repair but that’s plenty of ‘harvest down-time’ in which stress levels go up!
The grain drier at West Lane has been working all hours; reducing the moisture content of grain prior to grain storage. Last night a belt jammed as it tried to cope with wet grain and new belts cannot be ordered until Monday morning.
Hopefully the drier will be fixed on Tuesday, but until then each trailer load of grain has to be carted to the grain barn at Manor temporarily. All this grain will be re-loaded with the tele-handler and carted back to West Lane once the drier is repaired. This additional work will add many more man hours to the job.
Ed has been cultivating the areas already harvested at Park farm, Raikes and Shalford. An additional field at Shalford has been topped and is ready to plough in preparation for winter wheat.
It was quiet and drizzly at 7.30am as Christopher and I began Thursday at the foot of Box Hill. We were helping cars to cross a single width bridge in both directions and with car parking at the English sheepdog trials. Christopher returned for another eight hours on Friday - a great helper.
Unfortunately we didn’t get to see much of the trials, but at least Abinger Young Farmers Club can be proud of the smooth organisation it provided at such a sizeable event.
Standing by the bridge for six hours, I was glad of this beautiful view!
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