Wednesday 22nd May, 2013
That's it. Last field, last breed and last of Oasis in the ground for 2013. Now let's watch them all grow!

22May2013
Friday 10th May, 2013
With 87% of the peas now drilled if all goes well next week we will complete by Friday. Moisture is running away from the land following the weekend's high temperatures and the continuing wind. Today we tried a Horsch drill alongside a Vaderstad. Quite impressive, with considerable pressure being able to be applied to the coulters to ensure good depth. We await the results. Pleased to report that I've not seen many "pesky pigeons" this week.


10May2013
Friday 10th May, 2013
Another wild and windy day in Lincolnshire today so it's always a concern about wind blow damage on the lighter land. Due to some very good establishment of the earlies not much soil was lifted into the air. Up on the Heath when you look from the road the crop looks thin. This is a slight trick on the eye because the white stone is shining after the previous winds took some soil from the top. Once you walk in them you feel relived.


10May2013
Wednesday 8th May, 2013
Small road trip today checking on progress of Holbeach Marsh and the Spalding area. The trials are now emerging along with the field and there is a good sequence of emergence across the Geneva and Markardo. Further north where the drilling is taking place the weekend has taken out quite a lot of moisture so the drills go deeper. It would be nice just to get a 10mm shower of rain. Please!



8May2013
Wednesday 8th May, 2013
It's getting dry but peas drilled 6 days ago surrounded by moisture and with the temperatures rising have put on tremendous growth, as you can see below. Currently peas are emerging 10 days after drilling and earlier crops are growing away from interference from pests. Large and small. I think the final stages of drilling may well prove a bit challenging though!

8May2013
Wednesday 1st May, 2013
Glorious day to be out in the Fens. Light breeze and drilling of the final Geneva and continuation of Serge at Donington. Conditions are good and as they say, once in the ground peas only want sun on their back! Let's hope the upcoming Bank Holiday bucks the trend. Fred and Dill have had their first afternoon of "pigeon chasing" which has proved to be a success and they appear to be up for the challenge. On one farm today a sight that is becoming common place this year, re-dressing wheat through the combine to improve the quality. By all accounts here and on other farms it is worth the time and effort and lifts the quality of the sample significantly.


1May2013
Monday 29th April, 2013
Out with the "mole catchers" today looking at what we did last week. Even though there have been lower night time temperatures the peas continue to move on well. Two inch chits can easily be found on peas that have been in the ground 7 days. Crops drilled only 10 days ago are close to emergence as well. The rain has accumulated, 22mm this month, in nice even spells and has now gone through the dry, so as we approach some more bodied land later in the week conditions are good. As for the "mole catchers", they're now in training to deal with the pigeons!
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29Apr2013
Sunday 28th April, 2013
As the new power station rises from the ground at Sleaford so does the Style hopefully growing away from those pesky pigeons! Travelling around today there was all sorts of weather. Rain, hail and finally sunshine. Next week will see us start the Serge in the Donington area having completed the Markardo at Pinchbeck.




28Apr2013
Sunday 28th April, 2013
Geneva in the Marsh is now completed and we move on to Markardo in Whaplode Drove. The temperature rose above 20C today so time to have a look at the earlies.

28Apr2013