Crops are looking good, there’s even been some audacious comments about how good the wheat looks compared to this time in other years (all the more room for future disappointment!). But after a relatively kind autumn and a bit of rain and sun, its nice to see the majority of farms looking much better than they have at this time in the previous two years.
There’s a new favourite variety (which may be the secret behind the good looking wheat). The variety is called Arnie and is new this year. It has been bred by KWS who are constantly trialling and developing varieties through plant breeding. They are looking to develop good disease resistance, be resilient in our current weather conditions and produce a good yield. These varieties then go on the industry body’s “recommended list” with information about their properties and pros and cons. Farmers then choose what they plant based on their priorities and experience. I looked up Arnie and what its traits might be and the website said its “the all-round wheat for growers looking for a strong variety to add some muscle to their grain heap this autumn.” So there you go, looking forward to the muscle in the grain heap.
The sheep are eating their way through the cover crop and looking well from it which is ace. Some hedges are being cut, birds are being fed, there is more sugarbeet being harvested today and power harrow drilling happening right behind it. General winter farming happening.
Weather wise: all good (don’t quote me on that!)