We are now on the cusp of the harvest and there will inevitably be periods of pressure and frustration between now and mid-September, when I hope to have the beans finished. This has been a difficult year for beans. Sown in excellent conditions in good time in March, I was confident that after all the rain in February they would have an excellent start. They did, but as dry week followed dry week into May, it was quite clear that the pre-emergent herbicide was not doing its job. The field is prone to charlock at the best of times. But as the drought wore on, the weeds dominated the stunted beans. We went out again, but while the rain added inches to the beans, it helped the charlock even more. Thus, despite having a crop with limited potential, I am resigned to having to desiccate it pre-harvest, so that the combine doesn’t become chocked with masses of unwanted moist vegetation.

The wheat and oats have excellent weed control, but the straw is much shorter than normal. As usual, I have sold the wheaten straw by the bale, but I will be relieved if I get more than three 8x4x4 bales per acre. It’s a sign of the threatened straw shortage that I have also forward-sold the oaten straw. Unlike last year, when the unusually tall plants lodged badly in heavy rain and gales, this year the plants are short and standing. With its waxy coat, oats straw is difficult to save in good condition and if we do not get a settled spell, I will be prepared to chop it with the combine. On the cattle side, we are continuing to sell the dairy steers as they become fit. The bulls are almost all gone, but I haven’t replaced any, as I want to ensure that I keep to the stocking rate limit of 95% of the number between July 1 2018 and June 30 2019, so that I don’t lose my €10,000 BEAM payment.

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