Popular Post Oakley Farms Posted June 29 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 29 What’s been happening on farm in the last couple weeks I hear you ask? Well I’ll tell ya. The new shed steels are up and perlins are almost on now. Will start the roof and cladding soon but stopped to catch up with some spraying, fungicides on Spring Barley and Spring Beans, Liquid N sprayed on the wheat ears to up protein levels for milling grade. Podstik on the rape will be soon also. We have bought a second hand spring tine cultivator with the idea of modifying it in the workshop, we needed something to whizz over the spring land this year after the wet winter to move the soil to get it to dry out. Paul from Claas Western has been in to do the final modification to the Lexion, which involves taking the feed intake off completely to fit some rubber flaps, couple of bearings to change in the dust extraction unit too and she is good to go. We have had a lovely delivery also this week, if you remember at the back end of last year we sold our old 14t grain trailers and used the money to invest in one replacement, this time a 16t, still gone for the root spec and finished in the normal Oakley yellow, this one will be more suited to the smaller tractors on the fleet. We will still hire one for this harvests long hauls and look to purchase another 16t in a year or two. Alan kindly picked this up for us and then collected the slew for a back load as all the digger work is now done. Finally, put the hedgetrimmer and topper on to tidy up the verges and lanes, making it easier and safer for harvest. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil phoenix Posted June 30 Share Posted June 30 Looking good Alex, although I wondered if you might upgrade the 6R 215 convo for the new Wiking 6R 250, a bit more beef to back up the ageing CAT 765. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted July 2 Author Share Posted July 2 On 6/30/2024 at 8:43 AM, phil phoenix said: Looking good Alex, although I wondered if you might upgrade the 6R 215 convo for the new Wiking 6R 250, a bit more beef to back up the ageing CAT 765. Not on the cards at the moment, the 215 is only 2 years old, and a 250 wouldn’t be able to handle any of the gear the Cat pulls, but granted it is ageing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted July 19 Author Share Posted July 19 Pre harvest update The last couple of weeks have been surprisingly busy around the yard. A fairly major job was the replacement of the diesel tank for something a bit more modern, bigger and more secure. It involved a little bit of gardening work to make it fit!! Harvest prep was well underway, moving the combine out of the workshop, hoovering up areas around the tip pit and grainstore. We then had about a week of windy weather, delaying the desiccation of the rape. With not much else to do it gave chance to service up the handler, check and adjust the brakes on the grain trailers and fit the last of the perlins to the new shed. We have had a company in to put the roof on which is now done so it’s slowly getting there now. Once the wind dropped out with the sprayer Tom went to burn off the rape, which was 8 days ago now, so the countdown is really on now. Simon brought over the mini digger that he bought when doing up the manor house to level off the floor of the new shed, should be quite useful for ditching. The last few days this week we have taken the wheel weights off the 215R ready for hauling grain, got the side knives on the header and then a brief meeting about the plan for harvest whilst handing out the serviced fire extinguishers, each grain trailer has one in the carry tray on board. Everyone is now off for two days and ready to go next week….if the weather allows! 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack390 Posted July 19 Share Posted July 19 Nice update, looking good. Saw many combines rolling near Taunton today in both winter barley and osr 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted July 19 Author Share Posted July 19 54 minutes ago, Jack390 said: Nice update, looking good. Saw many combines rolling near Taunton today in both winter barley and osr We are 10 mins from Taunton 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted July 22 Author Share Posted July 22 Harvest Log 2024 Day 1 Finally had a nibble at some OSR, started up at Kingstone, always a mess about on the first day, setting things up, getting back into the rhythm. By mid afternoon we were flying, just about to pack in for the night at 21:30, 69 acres cleared. Tomorrow we will have 2 moves and some smaller fields but hopefully a more productive day. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted July 24 Author Share Posted July 24 (edited) Harvest Log Day 2 A day of wrapping up small fields and moving twice, Not very efficient but needs to be done. Still up at Kingstonetone Edited July 24 by Oakley Farms 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted July 24 Author Share Posted July 24 Harvest Log Day 3 Not a great day! Got going again late morning in the last field in the Kingstone block, before aiming to move just down the road into a 110 acre block called Moolham when the main conveyor from the tip pit to the dryer packed up on the last load. Had to leave this on wheels. With rain forecast by early evening we decided to head over to Joes at Yeabridge (5 miles away) and harvest his rape, 35 acres in three fields with one move, this was because we could tip the rape into one his sheds with just one trailer and then that can be hauled back tomorrow when they give rain and put through the dryer once up and running again. John stayed on trailers and Tom made a start on topping down rape stubble at Kingstone. Brought the combine back tonight and doubt there will be anything for a day or two now looking at the forecast! Still, we have made a half decent start! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted July 26 Author Share Posted July 26 Harvest Log Day 3 Back at home cutting rape again, didn’t get going until 4ish when the sun came out. In a nice 110 acre block at Moolham. Giving a nice weekend here in Somerset so hopefully head up the road to Bondip tomorrow and stay up there for the weekend. Wheat is still looking a little way off yet so might be a short break on the combining front. Yesterday during the rain everyone hauled back the rapeseed from Joes at Yeabridge to put through the dryer and into store once the conveyor had be repaired! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted July 27 Author Share Posted July 27 Harvest Log Day 4 Started the day off with Simon parading this new toy around the yard, traded in the Tiguan for a new Defender, and they say there’s no money in farming! He got Tom to fit a light bar and old wide load sign to it ready to escort us up to Bondip. Fuelled up the Lexion and went off up to finish Moolham, finished that at 5:30. Then re congregated to move up to Bondip. Time we actually got up there and going we managed to get the headland off the first field, with all three trailers on now we are 20 miles from base, even Simon had to do a load as we haven’t got our harvest helper yet until Monday. A bit unsure who we have got on tomorrow as Simon can’t really leave the dryer. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted July 29 Author Share Posted July 29 Harvest Log Day 5 Shorter days harvesting yesterday being a Sunday, a settled forecast and no wheat to go at yet. A couple of fields left to clear up at Bondip and then bring the combine back. Simon has put his new Defender to work by bringing the bowser up for the combine each morning. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 Harvest Log Day 6 A busy one today, started by finishing off the OSR at Bondip which concludes this years rape harvest-nice to have this crop safely in the shed. Brought the combine back to hq and a swap of machines for everyone. Time to burn some serious diesel and try to put right some of the land after the horrendously wet winter we had. First back to take a trailer off was Tom, changing for the Spearhead toppers, carrying on with knocking down rape stubbles in his 215r, next John in the 6930, putting on a front weight and the old chisel plough to hook up some deep tramlines, not been used for 30 years and then used 2 years on the trot! Once I brought the combine back, changed over to the Cat, although had to jump it first as hadn’t been started since end of May, Topdown on and off to Kingstone to chase the others with some deep cultivations. Simon was occupied today with Alan now back with us for harvest and he has a very smart new truck. Originally he was supposed to be bringing down the hire tractor and trailer but we have been let down so straight on with bulker work, outloading the OSR and running it up to the local pool. Simon likes to sell the rape straight off for a couple of reasons, early money for cashflow to pay for harvest and also need to space in the grainstore for the Spring beans and Barley. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 3 Author Share Posted August 3 Harvest Log Days 7&8 Into the wheat, starting with some of the earliest drilled Skyfall at Bay Hill and Blackdown. Had to let some rain blow through on Wednesday and got going late Thursday afternoon, John and Tom on Trailers. Then yesterday we finished off Bay Hill block and moved into my favourite block of land nextdoor at Blackdown, 135 acres, large fields, no taking the header off, high up with great views over Ilminster one side and the other as far a Exmoor, Quantock hills and Glastonbury Tor. Managed to get Bottom of old road harvested and the headland of the 60 acre piece off before the dew set in. The Jcb broke down in the afternoon so that has stopped Alan taking OSR away until next week. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 4 Author Share Posted August 4 Harvest Log Day 9 Finished the remaining 90 odd acres up at Blackdown last night, a couple of niggly breakdowns yesterday, shear pin on the unloading auger and a returns sensor, nothing too major, just annoying! Alan joined John on trailers yesterday so that Tom could carry on topping rape stubble. Today we are moving to a new to us block this year at Frogmary, will need all 3 trailers running today as it’s slightly further away. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 4 Author Share Posted August 4 Harvest Log Day 10 A good day on the road, Frogmary cleared, 75 acres and moved down the road to Joes at Yeabridge. There’s another 50 acres to do tomorrow and then a move back home to Selvinge 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 7 Author Share Posted August 7 Harvest Log Days 11 & 12 Finished Joes at Yeabridge on Monday and called back into Atherstone back on the home farm, tried a small field there but it’s not ripe. It’s a bit of a case now as to what is fit and the ground that needs to be cleared for OSR drilling. We are trying something different this year and having liquid digestate spread before drilling as rumours have it the dreaded flea beetle doesn’t like it! We have a contractor booked who has a Claas Xerion and dribble bar. A break on Tuesday with a damp start and overcast day allowed us to carry on with topping, pulling up tramlines and running the Topdown over rape stubbles. Back combining again today, this time at Selvinge, a decent block to go at here but rain forecast again tomorrow so will be short lived! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Joe Dewar Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 Ooh Xerion, Hopefully a Zunhammer Bomech combination, ?? Regards Joe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 9 Author Share Posted August 9 21 hours ago, James Joe Dewar said: Ooh Xerion, Hopefully a Zunhammer Bomech combination, ?? Regards Joe. Hi Joe, it’s a Kaweco setup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Joe Dewar Posted August 9 Share Posted August 9 1 hour ago, Oakley Farms said: Hi Joe, it’s a Kaweco setup Ah well, One will be as good as the other I guess, Personally I prefer the look of the Zunhammer Bomech rig, Just loos "right" Regards Joe. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 10 Author Share Posted August 10 Harvest Log Day 13 Good day back on harvesting yesterday, continuing the block down at Selvinge. Finished up in a field that had been flooded several times next to the River Isle. Skirted around the area as it has been re drilled with Linseed. One more field to do down here today, a small 6 acre piece just up the road and then potentially moving back up to Bondip 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 11 Author Share Posted August 11 Harvest Log Day 14 Everything went to plan, cleared up the last couple fields down at Selvinge, moved up to Bondip, cutting first wheats on the left hand side of the road and then there’s a block of second wheats on the right whilst we are here. Just got harvesting now at 3pm (Sunday) after chucking in at 20:30 with heavy drizzle yesterday. The sun didn’t come out today until lunchtime so hence the later start. A lie in for the team and carrying on with removing tramlines until we were ready. Hoping to start drilling some rape this week. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 12 Author Share Posted August 12 Harvest Log Day 15 It took until lunchtime for the Sun to come out and dry off the drizzle we had Saturday night so a mid afternoon start, still good progress in a nice big block with no header changes makes a big difference to output! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 13 Author Share Posted August 13 Harvest Log Days 16 & 17 A hell of a shift from everyone on Monday, almost 130 acres makes for the best days harvesting this year. Blistering hot day, no dew in the morning and cutting by 9am, no header changes at all, even to cross the road from West block to East the gateways are wide enough. Wheat was flying back to the farm with 4 trailers on carting, Tom, John and Alan with a helping hand from Joe in his Massey since we have been completely let down by our hire company this year. This will come off his harvesting bill so I think he was delighted to help for a couple days! The fuel bowser comes in really handy when up at Bondip, taking it up in the morning for servicing up and then Alan brings it back to the yard before taking over on a trailer. We tend to keep it locked up in the workshop overnight. We pushed on into the night last night knowing that rain was forecast by the end of play today, making sure we had a comfortable amount left to finish Bondip and head back home. Which we managed to do by 4pm. Having to blow the combine down completely before moving back because Bondip is known for having a bit of a blackgrass issue. Once back we headed into Boxstone to make a start as the rain hadn’t yet made an appearance, although by 6:30 that was it and back to the yard tucked up in the workshop after 3 days away from home, a few jobs to do on Sexy Lexi tomorrow. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted August 15 Author Share Posted August 15 Started drilling Oilseed Rape yesterday, nice bit of moisture up at Blackdown to hopefully get it up and away. Tom is on the Challenger with Sumo LDS, Alan is following on behind at a distance with the 155r and 12 meter Vaderstad rolls. A few adjustments on the combine today with Paul from Claas Western and then a move about in the yard to get the grain trailers out the way, stuffed them into the new shed which we are still waiting for the builders to come back and put the sheeting on. Simon came in this morning and announced that we are having a new tractor in September, it’s in the country and awaiting delivery at the dealership now, any guesses as to what it could be? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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