<?xml version="1.0" ?> <rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Fen Peas Blog Feed</title><description>Fen Peas Blog Update</description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/rss/</link><item><title><![CDATA[Friday 10th May 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[ 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.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/friday-10th-may-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thursday 9th May 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[ 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.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/thursday-9th-may-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wednesday 8th May 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[ 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!]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/wednesday-8th-may-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Monday 6th May 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[ 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!]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/monday-6th-may-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wednesday 1st May 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[ 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.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/wednesday-1st-may-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Monday 29th April 2013 ]]></title><description><![CDATA[ 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!. ]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/monday-29th-april-2013-/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Friday 26th April 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[ 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.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/friday-26th-april-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wednesday 24th April 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[ 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.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/wednesday-24th-april-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Monday 22nd April 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[ Complicated day today in Holbeach Marsh with a number of trials going in amongst the main drilling of Geneva with a wide array of kit.Talk of the temperatures rising this week which will mean plenty of growth and press on with the drilling.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/monday-22nd-april-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thursday 18th April 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[ A horrible day in the wind with moisture escaping left, right and centre. Peas continue to go into moisture at about 3 inches in the Wigtoft area before we move into Holbeach Marsh over the weekend. Crops, as well as my lawn, are now growing well. Just a littlle bit of wind damage from the blow but they may recover. ]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/thursday-18th-april-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tuesday 16th April 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[ The big toys are out as we continue drilling in and around the Boston area. Compana and Novella have been going in crossing over with some Geneva. Next week should see us bed in down Holbeach Marsh, where there will also be some variety trials. Hoping that the wind will drop and let the temperatures rise to try and catch up what is about a 2 week lag in crop development.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/tuesday-16th-april-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thursday 11th April 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[ It has taken a very long time but the first peas drilled are emerging at last. Some 49 days after drilling which must be some kind of record. Same variety, drilled at same time on same farm in 2012 emerged on 9th March last year! We will see how they track now as far as harvest date goes. Worth noting that April 2012 was very cold and wet so  if nature is with us things will catch up a bit. It appears at this stage that none have been lost and does go to show the high quality standards that our seedhouses adhere to. Next task to to keep those pesky pigeons off! ]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/thursday-11th-april-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tuesday 9th April 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[ Drilling has been going at a good pace and in much drier conditions than a week ago. The top two inches are bone dry now thanks to the cold east wind. This is the last of the Amalfi going in before we have a break and wade into the Novella south of Boston next week.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/tuesday-9th-april-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Friday 5th April 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[ These peas are pretty clever plants and know when to keep their heads below the surface when it's a chill wind above ground! Given the temperatures that are forecast over the next few days I expect this first field to emerge next week. They have been in the ground 45 days and have held up incredibly well. In the normal course of events they would have emerged in at least half that time!  Amalfi should be completed by Tuesday and then on to Novella South of Boston.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/friday-5th-april-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wednesday 20th March 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[ At the risk of becoming repetitive the pictures below represent 6 days growth in some fairly inclement conditions. I am led to believe that it is widely thought that Sugar Beet will grow at 3C. I think this applies to peas as well rather than the 5C that has been widely reported over the years. Last week got "cancelled" and it looks as though the remainder of March can have a red line through it as well! Let's reconvene after Easter!]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/wednesday-20th-march-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thursday 14th March 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[Despite the very cold temperatures above ground, if you just scratch the surface things are a little warmer. I was quite surprised to see as much growth in a week as shown below and that peas drilled last week had broken the skin and were growing. Albeit slowly!]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/thursday-14th-march-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tuesday 12th March 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[ Came across a piece written by Nigel Denby a recognized Dietician who says that "The humble pea packs a mighty nutrition punch. As well as being a great source of fibre and vegetable protein, peas are also rich in vitamin C, carotenes and B vitamins. So if the only green thing you can get the kids to eat is peas, you're not doing badly!" Couldn't agree more!]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/tuesday-12th-march-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Monday 11th March 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[ What a difference a week makes. The weather should be improving not going backwards. I am told we can blame it on the jetstream which is stuck somewhere over mainland Europe. Ah well, no drilling this week which does allow a catch up with paperwork and seeing people about working for us in the harvest season.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/monday-11th-march-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Friday 8th March 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[It's been a bit raw at times at the end of this week and temperatures have gone backward. Having said that you can see the growth that has occurred this week, from just bursting a chit on Monday to inch chits today. It surprised me! Can't see much happening next week if the forecasters are accurate, which is the total opposite to 2012 when we could not drill fast enough to keep up with the warmer temperatures we had then.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/friday-8th-march-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thursday 7th March 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[Well attended Grower meeting last night in The Granary at Elms Farm Cottages. The usual business was discussed and this was followed by polished presentations from Jim Scrimshaw and Becky Ward from PGRO. Covering herbicide options, volunteer potato control and current projects under way. The project of yield response to phosphate, which is only in year one, looks very promising.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/thursday-7th-march-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wednesday 6th March 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[ Big kit, big fields and big skies! It has to be Lincoln Heath. We are now in to the second block of drilling and Style is going in on the side of the A15 north of Sleaford. We will slow down as the week goes on to ensure we do not have any clashes of crops at harvest. According to the forecast temperatures are due to drop next week, so this will slow our progress down, but pleased with how we've started and how the peas have gone in.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/wednesday-6th-march-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Monday 4th March 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[ Sunshine was the order of the day this morning rather than the murky starts to the days of last week. The final Anubis was drilled on the western County border in good conditions with great views! Despite some cool night time temperatures peas are growing and the first fields are chitting. There is still a marked difference in soil temperatures from the coast to in land. 3C on the coast to 6C on the light land. The silts are drying well but in places "tender", so patience will be required to ensure the crop gets off to a good start.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/monday-4th-march-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Friday 1st March 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[ Drilling continues under the "Big Skies" of Lincolnshire. It's been quite a cold week but there is growth and the first drilled peas should chit over the weekend. The Anubis is all but completed and we have started on the Style at Sleaford before moving up onto Lincoln Heath next week. Just over 300 acres are now in. Soil temperatures have varied a lot with the reverse of last week occurring. The silts being warmer than the light land. Soil temperatures varied from 3.8C to 5.1C yesterday.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/friday-1st-march-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thursday 21st February 2013]]></title><description><![CDATA[ We are underway with the drilling of the 2013 pea crop! After what seems like an endless winter period it was good to get on the land. The peas are being drilled at Wilsford on some light land and are going in well. Soil temperature is a surprising 4C. That compares to 2C on the silts nearer to Boston. I would imagine they will be a good two weeks away before they will go. Steady as she goes at the moment but building up through next week, weather permitting! ]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/thursday-21st-february-2013/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thursday 25th October 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ The first of the viners has arrived home after some TLC at PMC Fakenham. Not much required I'm told but that is hardly surprising given the poor yields we experienced this year. The autumn is proving as challenging as the summer with some quite wet conditions for all land work taking place. Having done some "analysis" of the 2012 crop the one outstanding feature is lack of sunlight. In 2011 April to August inclusive we had 921 hours of sunlight and in the same period this year it was just over 600 hours. That is probably the biggest factor which led to the poor yields.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/thursday-25th-october-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tuesday 18th September]]></title><description><![CDATA[ We had a visit from The Good Taste Magazine during the season. See the article and the pictures below.

To read the full article please click here to download.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/tuesday-18th-september/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wednesday 22nd August 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ After a period of 57 days the 2012 season came to an end today and we will all be pleased to see the back of it. You could list no end of statistics about rainfall, sunlight, yield etc but it would not make us feel any better about a dreadful year of growing peas. At times it has been a battle against the elements, fields looking a real mess and a lot of diesel used. It's now time to clean down and put the machines to bed until 2013.  ]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/wednesday-22nd-august-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Monday 20th August 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ Today we had a film crew from Channel 4 visit the field. Jimmy Doherty is making a documentary about how the unusual weather patterns of 2012 have affected the crops grown in the UK. They have looked at potatoes, now peas and are going on to other crops such as fruit. He was well informed about the situation and good at explaining in non agricultural terms just what has happened. He also spent a long spell on a viner and passed the driver training test. If it all goes ahead the programme will be shown in October.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/monday-20th-august-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sunday 19th August 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ The last week of the 2012 pea season dawns with a high tide and the mist hanging in the fens. Only 300 acres to go and men and machines are ready for the final push. Well, most of the men. The season has taken its toll on the younger members of The Pod Squad.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/sunday-19th-august-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Friday 17th August 2012 (or Friday 13th Part 2:Machines' Revenge)]]></title><description><![CDATA[ On arriving in the field this morning I was greeted by glum faces and an endless list of issues. No2 Hydraulic Pump down. No1 Track rod ends gone. No3 Beater snapped in half. No4 had grown its shoulders in the night and was carrying the operation. Having said that his top fan had had issues the previous day. So it was all hands on deck and with superb back up and men from PMC all machines were running by mid afternoon. When you run these machines 24hrs a day and you get towards the end of the season, like the men, they are getting tired. A night to forget.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/friday-17th-august-2012-or-friday-13th-part-2:machines-revenge/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wednesday 15th August 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ During the growing season getting the herbicides applied was a nightmare. What with the peas not waxing up and poor travelling conditions it was awful. You can see below just how wet it was in places! The viners are now based in the Holland Fen area for a few hundred acres before the big move north of Boston for the final 600 acres.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/wednesday-15th-august-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sunday 12th August 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ Today is the start of our footrot crops, where the heavy rainfall has left it's mark and the peas have stunted and rotted in the field. There are some peas to be had but it's making the judgement of what to take without spoiling the sample. The Team will manage!]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/sunday-12th-august-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Friday 10th August 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ The machines are doing a lot of miles this week and the "logistics team" are facing challenges every day. The Markardo is all but done as is a bit of Ibis and it will be the Serge we wade in to next.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/friday-10th-august-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wednesday 8th August 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ Strange weather at the moment. Very warm days and nights followed by quite a chill in the morning. Almost a top coat job. Vining conditions are superb and the damp the morning mist creates helps as well. It is a bit tricky assessing crops at the moment. The peas have been through various growth stages and in some cases have flowered three times. Twice is a regular feature, but three times unheard of. In simple terms there are three grades of pea on each plant! Difficult. ]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/wednesday-8th-august-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Monday 6th August 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ Having had a week stood down waiting for the peas to mature we're now off bigtime! The Markardo has  come on and we are approaching the part of our drilling plan where we just drilled where we could due to the wet weather. I think we will be chasing around the fields of south Lincolnshire for the next few days.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/monday-6th-august-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tuesday 31st July 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ Whilst the viners rest until the next peas are ready there is no rest for our sampler Abi. Still toiling away testing the peas every morning. In fact peas have taken over her life. Firstly she was dreaming about them and now she is sleeping in them!  ]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/tuesday-31st-july-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Saturday 28th July 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. As we slow down the harvesting operation it gave me a chance to visit the remaining 100 fields (which involved 250 miles on the glorious roads of Lincolnshire!). There is a wide range in crop quality and in a number of cases 14 weeks of rain has done significant damage. Some fields may not be worth harvesting but we will see nearer the time. Below is a very good crop of Oasis, a field showing a trial variety which is not as susceptible to "footrot", a bad case of "footrot" and a cracking crop of Markardo. So a mixed bag.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/saturday-28th-july-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thursday 26th July 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ Our sweep round South of Boston will soon be complete and we will move into Holbeach Marsh for the rest of the week. At that point 50% of the area will have been harvested. This time last year we had harvested 85%. Quite a difference. The "rain break" we had at drilling will mean we could go a week without harvesting any peas at all, and with cooler weather forecast it may slow things down.  ]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/thursday-26th-july-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tuesday 24th July 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ With the high temperatures it was vital that we keep on top of the crop. Wigtoft, Sutterton and the Frampton area are now complete and we are camped at Fosdyke for 36 hours. Being closer to the factory the lorries get back quicker and it is unusual to have them lined up in Le Mans style. Nature is vital to all we do and at times can be very frustrating, as it has been this year. Then there are times such as the dawning of the day which are wonderful to observe.  ]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/tuesday-24th-july-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thursday 19th July 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ It is sometimes not possible to change shifts in the field as we need to be on the move. This morning it was Leverton layby which seems to be used a lot as a pitstop. May have something to dowith the cafe! Retailer visits are becoming a regular part of the pea harvest. Today we had Tescos in the field. I think they come not sure what to expect and are amazed at how gentle the viners are in getting the peas out of the pod. After a wet night it was a pleasure to see sunshine and a large concrete farm yard.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/thursday-19th-july-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tuesday 17th July 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ The rumbling noise of vining started again tonight in the Friskney area in some Amalfi, which has been a good variety to harvest this year. Conditions were good and we then moved up to Fishtoft where there had been 15mm of rain. In the morning it only needed Steven Spielberg with a horse and we could have made a film.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/tuesday-17th-july-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sunday 15th July 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ With the harvesting operation taking a breather for 36hrs there was a chance to look around all the crops still to harvest. A mixed bag. Below you will see a good crop which looks very considering. Early ploughed and roughly leveled in the winter. Due to the wet spring we did not dare move the land and went straight in with a Vardestaad drill and then rolled behind. The crop looks very well and the rain has been able to drain away. It was a mostly sunny day but I was followed by  a big storm!]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/sunday-15th-july-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Friday 13th July 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ As the date suggests we exercised extreme care today. The only incident was poor Abi who had been sampling in the pouring rain and managed to find the ditch. Never mind no harm done. I came across this other picture which nearly reflects our experience on Lincoln Heath this year. We have now caught up after the rain delays of earlier in the week and with the rain falling outside it will be Sunday or Monday before we go again.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/friday-13th-july-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wednesday 11th July 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ The move off Lincoln Heath down to the Fens brought great change to our daily life harvesting peas. One inch of rain proved to be the straw that broke the camels back and we were soon becoming bogged down on a regular basis. We stopped at lunchtime having given it a good go and got stuck 15 times. Thank you to Blowsy for providing the recovery service. We will leave it 36 hours and see what improvement we get in the weather. One bright note I have managed to find a decent late crop of peas! It is in the minority. ]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/wednesday-11th-july-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tuesday 10th July 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ We started again yesterday with a short hop down the A15. Conditions had improved, but are not what we are used to at this time of year. An article in one of the weekend papers prompted a flurry of media activity to report on the challenges we face harvesting peas and other summer crops this year. Those that did come were surprised just how tricky things were and I think their reports showed that.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/tuesday-10th-july-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Friday 6th July 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ A trying day on one of the wettest days we have ever experienced. We did manage to keep going all day but the pictures can tell the story We have now cleared 12% of our total area. 36 hours off now before we finish Lincoln Heath, sweep up Tattershall and then land in the Fens.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/friday-6th-july-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tuesday 3rd July 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ Significant rain over night meant that the harvesting slowed down. Alongside with this our fuel usage went up by about 20%! It was a difficult night but the sun shone this morning and the next fields of Anubis went well. There was also time for some driver training.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/tuesday-3rd-july-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Saturday 30th June 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ With Abi, the sampler, at a wedding today it was down to me to do the sampling. It's incredible just how many people are about early even on a Saturday. One happy soul this morning said "with these weather patterns it could be 2007 all over again"! I think it's time to expand the Menorcan operation.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/saturday-30th-june-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Friday 29th June 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ This morning we welcomed visitors from Defra and the NFU to the field to give them first hand experience of how a pea Producer Organisation works. Looking at the pictures it is hard to believe that this farm, near Grantham, had 42mm of rain the previous day. After driving the machines they were then shown the sampling station and how we assess the maturity of the crop. Over lunch we were able to discuss what the future may hold with regard to the CAP reform, and other matters. The warmth of the last few days and nights means the peas are on the move, so we will start 24 hours from tomorrow evening just as Italy kick off against West Germany!  ]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/friday-29th-june-2012/</link></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thursday 28th June 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[ Today provided a chance to look at crops further ahead. Mixed bag would be the report. The heavy rains are beginning to take their toll with pockets of footrot showing. Peas do not like wet feet! The last field drilled (below) is still looking good but whilst there, the storm clouds were gathering and by nightfall between 25mm and 42mm of rain had fallen! These crops are suffering at the hands of mother nature.]]></description><link>http://www.fenpeas.com/blog/thursday-28th-june-2012/</link></item></channel></rss>