tractorboyjules1977 Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 Glad to see the neighbours pulling there fingers out !!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted March 20, 2017 Author Share Posted March 20, 2017 Haha our progress is behind yours I notice! I'm getting as bad as Chris Reyland....maybe not that bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tractorboyjules1977 Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 26 minutes ago, Oakley Farms said: Haha our progress is behind yours I notice! I'm getting as bad as Chris Reyland....maybe not that bad Yeah only just though !! Never b that had i haven't had to hire in help while your own machines parked up !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted March 20, 2017 Author Share Posted March 20, 2017 No no he is on the ball this year, been out drilling last week, but I can't work out if it's spring barley, spring beans or last years winter wheat he has put in!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tractorboyjules1977 Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 13 hours ago, Oakley Farms said: No no he is on the ball this year, been out drilling last week, but I can't work out if it's spring barley, spring beans or last years winter wheat he has put in!! He had a claas just above Godfreys drilling !!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted March 27, 2017 Author Share Posted March 27, 2017 27/03/2017 A break half way through drilling spring beans for wet weather last week, a lovely dry weekend and we are back on it, cultivations completed Saturday and the drills out in full force Sunday for 400 acre block at Speaks. Finishing off there today and with rain forecast for Wednesday we are putting in a night shift tonight to complete 100 acres across the road from Speaks for Osborne, then moving back next door to the yard for the last 200 acres, will make a start on this tonight to make it an easier day for tomorrow, Chris and Mark will be off the machines now whilst Myself and Webby take over on the drill and rolls after a fill up of the red stuff, once we move back to the farm in the early hours Webby will move from the rollers to go back and collect the seed trailer leaving rolling for tomorrow. Pre ems are up to day with the beans so far so Phil is currently applying T0 on W barley, fingers crossed we can wrap the last of the pre ems up this week as recommendations are in for T0 on wheat! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FendtFarmer Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 Good updates, the big drill looks good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted March 27, 2017 Author Share Posted March 27, 2017 10 minutes ago, Agcofarmer said: Good updates, the big drill looks good! Cheers mate, 12 metres for CTF, hopefully going to change the tank colour soon to bring it in line with the newer models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave the farmer Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 Top updates Alex like the drill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted April 1, 2017 Author Share Posted April 1, 2017 Spring beans = Done Drilled, Rolled & Pre Emergence on. Now onto T0 Spuds next week hopefully! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted April 4, 2017 Author Share Posted April 4, 2017 First field of potatoes in today, Shepody going in down at Horlicks, a little tacky but going well 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted April 25, 2017 Author Share Posted April 25, 2017 Late April update Potatoes have been going in well, 170 acres are in now includes Horlicks and Hurcott south. Down to the last 80 acres now so moving to Eames Mill tomorrow, getting slightly cloddy now, glad we only subsoiled and didn't press on and rip ground up and bake out. We made the decision last week to crack on with T1 spray on wheat first rather than the second dose of liquid N due to the risk of scortching in the hot weather, at least if the weather breaks we can still apply that keeping the workload shifting. T1 is done on the combinable wheat, a few days on AD wheat for whole crop. Sprayer workload is never ending, if that lot wasn't enough there's the late flowering OSR spray imminent as well as pre ems on spuds! We haven't drilled any maize for AD yet, 2 reasons being we are waiting for our drill to turn up and it's also very dry, those that have planted already won't be far ahead, but if the machine arrives then next week we will try to get some in. So far there's a couple hundred acres ready to seedbed but that's it. The sprayer will have pre em on maize to do then too! Pictures to come soon. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted May 3, 2017 Author Share Posted May 3, 2017 Some 25mm of rain over the bank holiday weekend was very welcomed here in Somerset, just managed to finish the late flowering spray on the rape Saturday night. The rain has made a difference to the spud planting, bedtiller is now going easier and the destoner has less to deal with, much better ridges, now down to about 40 acres left. Definitely made the right decision holding off applying the last dose of liquid N on the wheat until now as we have avoided scortch completely and was able to press on with it through the showers on bank holiday Monday and continue this week with cooler temps. Catch up with pre em on spuds and whatever maize is to do before T2. Talking of maize we are just whizzing over the ground for a second time with the carrier now the rain has soaked in and create a tilth rather than clods, so far haven't had to use a power Harrow so happy days. Yesterday the new drill was collected from Redlynch, 8 row Horsch, the first year at attempting maize on CTF, 6 meter system. Steve Burcham came out to help us set up, working with the Trimble system for auto shut off on headlands and RTK traffic lines. 100 acres now in today which is pleasing but a week later than planned but into better seedbeds so all good. Whether to double shift it is the next question with 1100 acres left. A few pictures from the wet day in the yard. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithy Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 could do with your 25mm of rain over here as we have hardly had a few mm in april lots of bear patches in the spring barley field and the sugar beet are struggling most of them are up but still some seeds in bone dry ground like you update anyway 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted May 22, 2017 Author Share Posted May 22, 2017 On 03/05/2017 at 11:43 PM, smithy said: could do with your 25mm of rain over here as we have hardly had a few mm in april lots of bear patches in the spring barley field and the sugar beet are struggling most of them are up but still some seeds in bone dry ground like you update anyway How are things fairing up now Smithy, we had another 23mm last week which has helped, especially the spring beans who were suffering, and maize on the loams, wheat looking good, barley is average, rape reasonable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted May 22, 2017 Author Share Posted May 22, 2017 Things are pretty much wrapped up regarding spring work now, we finished drilling maize last week, so impressed with the new drill, great output. Just waiting to put on the last pre em's once T2 is all together on wheat which will be this week. First blight spray will be this week too for spuds. Not long for post em herbicide and mag boost for maize too. Some of the boys are now on irrigation set up, an easier year with only Eames Mill block with the ability to water which is 80 acres, Horlicks and Hurcott North have no underground lines. Start to turn our attention to harvest now, we have combines and headers to go through workshop aswell as trailers and also a harvester of a different shade of green to look at, bought second hand from a local contractor for AD work, new for us! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tractorboyjules1977 Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 Hope you got instruction book for the new toy ! ha ha! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted May 22, 2017 Author Share Posted May 22, 2017 Ha ha going to need one, I was hoping it came with a pilot driver from the reputable contractor we bought it from 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithy Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 On 22/05/2017 at 9:38 AM, Oakley Farms said: How are things fairing up now Smithy, we had another 23mm last week which has helped, especially the spring beans who were suffering, and maize on the loams, wheat looking good, barley is average, rape reasonable. Hi Alex we had about 51mm of rain over 3 days my winter barley which is Tower was beginning to show sighs of stress it is on some light land that I rent it is about the right height for straw length but will need some more rain to keep it on track , my spring barley which is Propino is really struggling as it was 7 weeks without moisture and several bare patches across the field we had hoped to get a malting sample out of it but I can see it only going for feed , my early drilled first wheat's which is Leeds is looking really good at the moment but the dry spell may have had a affect on grain fill my 2nd wheats which are KWS Siskin and Evolution are not as dark green as I would like and is a bit short on straw length so that has been struggling last few weeks so now after that rain I hope the moisture go's on the ear fill and not on secondly growth the winter beans (Tundra) are a little bit to thick but are looking good at this moment but there is still a long way to go before harvest , the sugar beet that come up first have two true leaves on them but there is a few more only now coming though which makes the spraying difficult as we cant make the mixes to hot to take out the weeds as it will take out the beet as well the small ones may get big enough by harvest time as not to fall though the webs on the harvester 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COWBOY Posted June 1, 2017 Share Posted June 1, 2017 Hi Alex, great looking outfit, where did you get the destoner? Do you know of any model destoners for sale? Thanks sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Light Land Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 Maize planter looks good Alex.Much crop being grown free this year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted June 27, 2017 Author Share Posted June 27, 2017 On 01/06/2017 at 10:15 PM, COWBOY said: Hi Alex, great looking outfit, where did you get the destoner? Do you know of any model destoners for sale? Thanks sam Destoner was made by BOR, one of four unlikely to be repeated unfortunately. I will keep my eyes and ears if I hear of one up for sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted June 27, 2017 Author Share Posted June 27, 2017 On 14/06/2017 at 8:23 AM, Light Land said: Maize planter looks good Alex.Much crop being grown free this year? Thanks Ol, we have about 870 acres this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted June 28, 2017 Author Share Posted June 28, 2017 Pre Harvest Update Well the countdown to harvest is upon us, preparations are well underway ahead of our busiest period. The combines are serviced and we have one header to finish off before we run both up out in the yard, winter barley is up first which is looking around 7-10 days away weather depending, oilseed rape will possibly be dedicated towards the end of next week. The drier has had a once over and the handling system is being looked at now, TVS farm cleaning will be brought in next week to wash all the grain stores and cold stores before fumigation and sanitation. Currently the lads are hauling in as mush compost as possible to field locations for autumn spreading along with 2 of Orchards guys and one lorry from Bonning's, sewage sludge has also been delivered to heavy ground. Potentially harvest will start for us next week with wholecrop wheat for AD, brand new for us to do this completely ourselves so slightly daunting I admit, around 800 acres to complete our contracted tonnage. Last week Dan headed over to Compass Tractors to pick up the new XDisc header, 6.2 metres to fit our CTF system. As some of you will already know we were involved with Orchard contractors in running an ejector trailer along with one of theirs for a couple years, when the scope and profitability came about to potentially grow crops ourselves for energy the decision was made to grow this side of the business a little, justifying to now do the job in house, originally we could not do this in the beginning so teamed up with our neighbours and that worked very well, now with both our own workloads increased along with the acreage required for AD we are now in a position to try it ourselves. We are gearing up to do this within our CTF system but at 6 meters, using the existing 12 metre runs and placing runs in between, allowing energy crops to fit into our arable rotation which gives benefits such as more profitably to our customers and black grass control without compromising soil health. A tool which allows us to do this is the ejector trailers-having bought Orchards as well as our own, running on triple axels to spread the weight with low ground pressure tyres these will strictly be for field use, pulled by tractors with GPS, then using the Maus to load waiting lorries on the road. We have just had both of them completely overhauled ready for the season by TWR commercial bodybuilders who have done a fantastic job complete with new paintwork which will be the Oakley colour scheme on custom builds. We will keep our two 14 Richard Western silage trailers for opening out headlands and knocking out the midfield as well as road work if required. All loads are weighed and clamped at Oakley with the pisten bully and transported out all year round by the digester boys. So what's the crops looking like at the moment....Wheat looks good, light land suffering a little with drought stress but all in all ok, winter barley is looking a bit disappointing, most of it on very light land and has been hammered by the wind, it's not flat just slumped together, spring beans have picked up really well and looking excellent, rapeseed is also looking promising this year although we don't have a great deal compared to most years, maize looks ok but needs a drink along with the spuds, the wrong year to grow nearly 200 acres on in irrigation land? Time will tell. Looking ahead we currently only have 900 acres of straw sold so looking for buyers, I definitely want to sell off the remaining 600 acres of winter barley straw, I don't want to chop it as oilseed rape is to follow next year and gives us slug issues, more than happy to chop wheat straw where rape doesn't follow however. Trailers will start to go through the workshop tomorrow, washed, sanitised, running gear checked, lights checked and greased up, the annual Heath and safety meeting is this Friday along with constabulary inspection to make sure we are all above board. Stay tuned next week and see things kick off... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tractorboyjules1977 Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 Cracking update , liking the new colours on the ejector trailers !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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