Oakley Farms

Spring drilling Campaign is progressing well, started last Saturday after lunch and we have now completed Bondip, Knott Oak, Bay Hill and almost finished Kingstone, leaving about 300 acres left, 200 odd in The Park, 90 at The Meads and 20 or so still up at Kingstone. There’s rain due tonight and a bit tomorrow so not sure when we will get going again. Colin has been tight up behind rolling which leaves nothing if we get the rain. Just backed the drill undercover tonight

I have done the tracks and undercarriage too. Will show pictures when I have put it all back together

Just for you Phil

This last week we have had a 6 meter Amazone Catros on demo, we have managed to use this to pull down the ground behind the Tiger ready for drilling. Impressed with the roller on the back. Simon also brought the drill over from his old farm ready to start drilling the beans today when the Claas had finished ripping up ground at Bondip. Colin has been using the Catros and will probably finish working down the ground tomorrow and will swap for the rollers. Simon also loaded up some seed ready to take to the first block at Knott Oak

I was just looking at that today actually, it looks too new. The tracks are beginning to pick up some dust from the stone spray. I’d definitely like to do the exhaust, I’d just like to get it right

We have two other tractors on the farm as well as the Claas, both 724’s an older one with the old shade of green which Simon and myself share and a newer nature green shade which is Colin’s. Playing catch up over the last few weeks as to what’s been happening, I brought the Horsch Tiger back after having some modifications done to the depth control, it has been been used to rip up ground ahead of Spring Beans when the Claas arrived. Colin got the Sulphur on the OSR using the Amazone twin disc spreader and Simons hiab trailer which is a really handy bit of kit for being self sufficient when loading fert or seed. It was bought second hand and put through the workshop over winter for a refurb and re spray.

Talking more about the prime mover, Simon bought her in good condition from Hawthorn Farms Grainstores up in Wiltshire. It was taken back to Claas Western in Dorchester for a refurb. They replaced the whole undercarriage including new tracks, service, added some bigger front weights. She’s an 85E chipped up to a 95E so just over 400hp. The cab had a valet and Trimble was added for auto steer and was delivered to farm mid March. In model terms with the help of a friend we added a rear hitch off of a CAT 800 range model, also cut the weights off and added a bigger set. Then finishing touches include grease gun, handrails, gps, cb Ariel, toolbox, Michelin man, twin beacons, number plates, sidelights/indicator rails, fire extinguisher and weight block headlights. I think she now looks the part.

Many thanks! Will talk more about what has been done to the model later, looking forward to sharing more layout pictures as it grows

So after over 4 years, Oakley is back and what better way to kick off than the delivery of our prime mover. A 2003 Claas Challenger 85E brought over from our local dealers Claas Western a couple weeks ago after a major overhaul. Hopefully she’ll fit in well here.

I have been working on the boundaries of the layout today, adding trees and shrubbery. The old straw shed and farm office are now finished, soon be time to get some machinery in!

Go well up there old friend

Mocked up one side of the farm last night, not finished but gives you an idea

March update Hedge trimming now completed until the autumn, John has done everything he can in the timescale. We have decided to get in CMC crop sprayers to do the bulk of the spring applications, Simon hasn’t yet nailed down a deal on a sprayer so Crawford has been in applying liquid N to the OSR and is now working his way through the Wheats in his 24m Multidrive. Colin will be applying Sulphur to the Rape this week too. There’s a rumour our prime mover is going to be delivered this week allowing us to start ripping up some ground for Spring beans so watch this space as and when that happens. Nice to be starting to get on in the fields as the new farm is being built. Hope to bring some of the machinery in later in the week.

The grass is growing

Layout is progressing well, have all the banks around the outside of the farm in place and ready to apply some scenics, have started to roof the old straw shed and also built a ramp at the back of the farm for field access

Amazing work, looks absolutely fantastic

Farm update The last month has seen some dry weather here in Somerset now allowing us to think about preparing for spring drilling. We are in Limbo at the moment whilst developing the farm from how it was existing to how Simon now wants it. So we are having to rely on outside help whilst we get a workshop and sheds sorted. We have John Webb hedge trimming for us in his McCormick and also had the local sprayer contractor in applying round up to stubbles ahead of Spring Beans. Most of our machinery is currently being stored at Simons old farm in Taunton which will be transferred across to Oakley once we have shed space. We have been stripping back the old workshop to make bigger, reroofing the old straw shed and now cladding the 4 bay machinery shed.

Progressing well with cladding the old straw shed, one side and the back now done

Second shed frame built tonight, this time an older concrete frame that will be cladded in wood, this will be the old straw shed when Oakley was a dairy farm many many years ago

Concrete panels have gone in tonight to retain the higher level

I used stone effect spray paint, there’s several brands out there and they do different colours

Today we have mostly been laying concrete

Yes the cab does come off, try pinching in slightly at the bottom on both sides

What a dream! I’m glad I have the room to fit all the sheds I want to in but there are some surrounding fields that are rolling countryside that I’d love to build!