After a hectic but largely dry weekend, we got both the seed and commercial wheat sown and the headlands of the winter barley fields tidied up. Mind you, it was not without some difficulties.

The seed wheat went in after beans, the ideal sequence in my view. When we were combining the beans, the bean stalks and troublesome bindweed were chopped so a light discing left the field ploughable and fit to sow with the one-pass system.

Despite having applied Roundup, it took a rotavator to break up the mass of vegetation properly

The field after the poor crop of spring oats had patches of bindweed and unharvested oats. Despite having applied Roundup, it took a rotavator to break up the mass of vegetation properly. After that, we ploughed and sowed without too many problems.

There was no difficulty with the winter-sown oats ground. Elsewhere in the tillage fields, the tramlines are clearly visible in the winter barley and the oilseed rape fields are totally green but with the crop sown on 9 and 10 September, I do not think the plants are remotely strong enough to withstand a frost-induced attack by pigeons, so a spell of mild growth weather would be welcome.

Meanwhile, on the cattle side, we have bought in the first of the autumn steers for wintering and grazing next spring

We have decided to skip the last field of winter barley and instead keep it for beans in the spring but first we have to get the last of the winter crops sown – the gluten-free oats.

Meanwhile, on the cattle side, we have bought in the first of the autumn steers for wintering and grazing next spring. I had planned to buy nothing until the results of the Brexit discussions were clearer but with silage in the clamp and grass that has to be stocked, I lacked the courage to go into the winter with practically nothing on hand for next year.

The stock that came were well enough shaped – mostly Angus so they should qualify for the Angus bonus, etc, but they are costing 15c/kg to 20c/kg more than last autumn, so a lift in the factory price is going to be essential.

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