smithy Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 17 hours ago, Oakley Farms said: Same here Smithy, 15mm from 3pm yesterday until this morning. How’s the yields? Ares did not start till about 7.30pm but was all night for the 17mm then about 10.30am thursday morning we had another 3mm . I am cutting Tardis winter barley ,yields not good i reckon its about 2.5 ton acre or 6.25 hectare my mates is the same , there is loads of straw ,if you look back at photo i posted few days ago while up my mates as we was struggling to get 20foot cut into small baler , not normally this much straw 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithy Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 This is my mates baler and rows of straw that we are struggling to get in baler ,loads of straw but not grain ,my baler the same ,if we run same way as combine it goes in better but if we run other way it seems to lift it and jam up ,we got about 750 small bales done for a 1500 order my mate has ,i then need about 400 and my mate needs about 800 for some other orders he has . Both are balers have had knotter issures over last few weeks ,we had differant people look at them and fix them ,mine so far is ok but did cost more than my mates as we replaced more parts ,i got my man to look at colins baler on wednesday and he said bill-hooks and wiper arm on right hand knotter needs changing and other things need tweaking which he is going to do so his will end up costing more than mine in the end as paying twice ,as long as its fixed is what matters as broken bales in sledge is not fun 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted July 28, 2023 Author Share Posted July 28, 2023 Looks to me like you need a bigger baler Smithy!! That’s some straw there, what combine is it? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted July 28, 2023 Author Share Posted July 28, 2023 (edited) Harvest Log Day 5 Back after the best day so far this year, 130 acres harvested today in probably my favourite block of fields up at Blackdown. 5 fields all link together, no header changes, high up above the town of Ilminster with views for miles. It was wet and needs drying but it’s a case of having to now with the forecast as it is, wheat ready and the quality is only going to go down. Back in the yard tonight, then the last lot of rape to cut tomorrow hopefully, 20 miles up the road at Bondip. 3 trailers tomorrow to haul Edited July 28, 2023 by Oakley Farms 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithy Posted July 29, 2023 Share Posted July 29, 2023 13 hours ago, Oakley Farms said: Looks to me like you need a bigger baler Smithy!! That’s some straw there, what combine is it? My mates combine is a M/F 40rs 20 foot cut ,mine is a N/H TX63 20 foot cut 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted July 29, 2023 Author Share Posted July 29, 2023 Harvest Log Day 6 All best laid plans and all that, in the yard early this morning, blow the combine down and service up, hook the header up behind the combine and head off up the A303 to Bondip, all dual carriageway pretty much, only about halfway there there’s a downpour! So off for breakfast it was. We did get going at lunchtime thankfully and have just finished Bondip East block which completes the rape harvesting this year. Today we have had both our Deeres on hauling along with local help John in his Claas who helps us out regularly. We still have wheat and beans to harvest up here but its heavy ground and crops tend to be a bit further behind than back home, plus we need at least 4 trailers to haul wheat back from here and our hire tractor isn’t due for another 10 days so it’s back home we go tomorrow morning with the combine and try some wheat. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 6, 2023 Author Share Posted August 6, 2023 Farm update and Harvest Log Day 7 A wet week had prevented any harvesting which is frustrating to say the least. But it has allowed us to finish topping down rape stubbles and also put the vintage chisel plough on the Cat and rip up all the horrible tramlines from a wet spring. We took the side knives off the header and put the dividers back on for Wheat, had a repair to do on our top cattle grid which acts as a sediment trap so that was taken out and welded up. With more of our modern machinery having Ad Blue, it was beginning to be quite a bind filling up everything from an ICB tank so Simon has bought a purpose built tank and pump unit to sit alongside the diesel tank which should make this a lot quicker and easier for everyone. We did manage to have a nibble into some Wheat on Friday evening up at Kingstone. Cleared two fields, Church field and Green close. This block is destined for OSR and with the contractor not able to get to us before the storm the next morning we chopped the straw. One thing we can’t have is wet rows of straw hanging around when we have rape to drill. It’s all good though as Dan from Three Oaks Farm Contracting is available from next week which will be Fantastic! 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 7, 2023 Author Share Posted August 7, 2023 Harvest Log Day 8 Another smash and grab last night from a drying day after the storm. Still at Kingstone, started in two smaller fields and then moved into South Field giving us a bigger field to finish in as it got dark. A more settled forecast this week so should get something done. 3 fields in a smaller block nextdoor to start in tomorrow morning and then up the road is 110 acres at Moolham 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 8, 2023 Author Share Posted August 8, 2023 Harvest Log Day 9 First full day combining for a while, felt good! The smaller block at Kingstone finished and a move literally up the road to make a start at Moolham. Pictures to follow later. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 8, 2023 Author Share Posted August 8, 2023 Harvest Log Day 10 and farm update Another very frustrating day hampered by the weather. After what we thought we had got away with this morning with no rain, it caught up with us this afternoon. Finished off up at Moolham and was debating whether to move or not as could see rain blowing in off the hills. We did but down the hill to Knott Oak, 50 or so acres here that isn’t destined for OSR next year but felt it was pointless moving all the way up to Bondip some 20 miles away with rain about. However that is the next and last block we need to clear ahead of drilling rape. We persevered probably a bit too long to finish two small fields in the rain but that was that and pulled out. Also this week so far, Alan is back with us from his 2 week holiday, bringing the bulker down Sunday night before going back to bring his John Deere 185 down on Monday morning which we are hiring for harvest. A quick change of trailers and straight on with moving out OSR up to the co operative store at Hopkins which is about 25 mile away. We have to shift the rape out as we don’t have enough room for all the wheat and beans and with a United Oilseeds store so close it works well. Simon was loading Alan inside the store so not to hold trailers in and out tipping wheat off from the field. It’s a bit tricky but doable. When we were rained off today the two tractors also helped shift some loads out too as they have sheets. Last night the combine stayed out up at Moolham so this morning was a good chance to see how the new bowser works, with a dual tank, diesel and Ad Blue it’s perfect for when we don’t bring the combine home at night and take fuel up in the morning. Also perfect for Bondip being far away. Talking of which we are aiming to move up there tomorrow now and forget Knott Oak as there’s no pressure on that. We will have all 4 trailers on, Tom in the 215 and 18t, Alan will jump on his 185 with the other 18t. Colin on the 155 with 14t and John is ready to come on with the last 14t and his Claas. Even then 4 don’t quite keep up. Having a bit of a nightmare with straw this year, since Sunday we have laid it on the floor for baling thinking the forecast was getting better, decent amounts off it too and although it’s not wet, Dan has been out to look at it and it’s too damp to bale, needs some sunshine on it and then today had heavy drizzle on it. So no baler has arrived yet. At this rate Simon will be telling him to bring a chopper I think! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithy Posted August 9, 2023 Share Posted August 9, 2023 at least you are getting some done ,we just keep getting a bit of rain every day and yes i have very wet straw here i was going to turn it yesterday but it had another 6mm dumped on it so left it alone 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 9, 2023 Author Share Posted August 9, 2023 32 minutes ago, smithy said: at least you are getting some done ,we just keep getting a bit of rain every day and yes i have very wet straw here i was going to turn it yesterday but it had another 6mm dumped on it so left it alone So frustrating! But we haven’t had a year like this for a couple years 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 11, 2023 Author Share Posted August 11, 2023 Harvest Log Day 11&12 Completed the block of wheat up at Bondip North over the course of Wednesday and half of Thursday before travelling back to Knott Oak to finish off where we got rained off on Tuesday afternoon. Back harvesting at home now up at Bay Hill, dropped 2 trailers off the team now so Alan is back on outloading OSR with the lorry and Tom is burning off some stubbles ahead of OSR drilling at Yeabridge and Frogmore. Dan has been getting on well with his baler, and has Moolham and Kingstone all done with his lads on clearing them today. He has gone up to Bondip today to try and get that block wrapped but before the weather breaks down tomorrow. If it rains on Bay Hill and Knott Oak it doesn’t matter as much as there’s not rape going in after. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 11, 2023 Author Share Posted August 11, 2023 Harvest Log Day 13 Another 93 acres ticked off the list. Things we learnt today, Webbys Claas doesn’t like 18t trailers very much and the 60t/hr conveyors aren’t 60t/hr! A backlog back to the tip pit was there most of the afternoon with wheat coming in the fastest it has this season, a good crop, mostly stood up and not much of a haul for the trailers. Good chance to check the sample though. Simon has been pretty stressed today keeping wheat flowing. For some reason he has also decided to load Alan outside today and got more rape on the floor than in the trailer by the looks of it. Spoken to Dan who is hoping to get Bondip baled, closer to head back to his yard from there than ours tonight so he is coming back down tomorrow. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weblet375 Posted August 12, 2023 Share Posted August 12, 2023 Awesome layout. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 12, 2023 Author Share Posted August 12, 2023 Harvest Log Day 14 Started cutting the block of land up behind the farm which is accessed up the ramp past where we made the trailer park, had Colin and Alan on Trailers today with the 155R and hired 185R. This block is high up and has caught the wind so some of the wheat is a bit lodged over, not completely flat but a big slower today. Dan was back around with Big Blue and the baler today, calling into the workshop for a few running repairs before baling up Knott Oak and then up to Bay Hill, he is slowly catching us. Tom also had a busy day, off to Compass tractors this morning to collect a new machine, needed his weight block to bring it back, then out with the truck and trailer to bring back a stocks seeder unit which he is going to mount onto the Amazone Catros discs to put in cover crops with. Last year we direct drilled them with the rapid but it burns a bit too much fuel lugging it around, it also contributed to extra wear on all the discs and coulters which really should be saved for cereal drilling where we actually have a return from a crop. So this idea should hopefully allow us to whip over the ground quicker and cheaply to establish them. Tom is quickly becoming a great asset to the team here, mastering the sprayer and now has a chance to show off his fabrication skills. He will soon be out using it after drilling rape. Everyone rained off just after 6 tonight, not a great deal of rain but enough to be a nuisance for today. I cut French Nut Park, Long Ponds, Great Owens Wood and just knocked the headland of 34 acre off before chucking in. Dan managed 2 fields up at Bay Hill, 3 left before he is in the same block as us. Off down the pub now 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Palmer Posted August 13, 2023 Share Posted August 13, 2023 First picture in this post looks real, great claas model and scenery 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Palmer Posted August 13, 2023 Share Posted August 13, 2023 First picture in this post looks real, great claas model and scenery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 13, 2023 Author Share Posted August 13, 2023 So this is the machine that Tom went to collect yesterday, a Sumo LDS with Stocks Ag seeder. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack390 Posted August 13, 2023 Share Posted August 13, 2023 Bet that takes some pulling! Very smart bit of kit 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil phoenix Posted August 13, 2023 Share Posted August 13, 2023 Even a 6250R would struggle with that Sumo cultivator, good job the CAT 765 is available. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 13, 2023 Author Share Posted August 13, 2023 1 hour ago, phil phoenix said: Even a 6250R would struggle with that Sumo cultivator, good job the CAT 765 is available. Yep, that’s what she’s going on 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 13, 2023 Author Share Posted August 13, 2023 Harvest Log Day 15 Didn’t think we would cut anything today but Simon gave the go ahead after lunch to carry on from last night. Working my way around the block up behind the farm. It was fun and games this evening as I cut open a few fields to allow the trailers to come in and out from the side of the yard rather than all the way up the back and around. One field in particular is very steep and a bowl shape, so it’s always uphill to get out. First Tom can’t get up and out in the 155 as his 215 is in the workshop from yesterday on the Amazone Catros, so he goes to grab the Cat, overkill and not normal I know but not worth messing around after what happened back in 2007 in this field (see pictures) Alan didn’t bother and went back to grab the 215 and put on a 14 tonner with the front weight. Just to finish this last bit of steep land beside the farm. Finished off and now just moved across the road into The Meads and got the headland off before rained off yet again!! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithy Posted August 13, 2023 Share Posted August 13, 2023 9 hours ago, Oakley Farms said: So this is the machine that Tom went to collect yesterday, a Sumo LDS with Stocks Ag seeder. I looked at one of them stocks machine to put on the back of my Pluton so i could put rape seed in but because i dont have GPS and if i could not maintain a constant forward speed it would be over-seeding if i slowed up , The Bullock Tillage one was cheaper and for about £200 extra it had a built on basic GPS for speed same as in Tom-Tom so if i hit a tough bit and slowed up it slowed the seed rate up . I did not buy one as allow i would like to grow rape i am not sure i could control the dam Flea-beetle 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 13, 2023 Author Share Posted August 13, 2023 Have you given up growing rape now Smithy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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