On Monday, almost a full month after desiccating the oilseed rape, we began harvesting it and finished late on Tuesday evening.

At this stage, it is too early to say what exact yield moisture we achieved but the initial indications from the monitors in my contractor’s combine gave us a yield of not far off two tonnes but at a moisture of somewhere around 12% to 13%, higher than the 9% that is the target for maximum payout.

In reality, I was glad to be harvesting it in such good conditions after the strong winds and rain of last week.

Perhaps the modern varieties don’t shed as easily as those in the past but I was still relieved that I had applied a pod sealer.

I was not quite sure what form this checkup would take

Most of the rape straw has been submitted for the straw incorporation scheme – the other crop submitted is the oats which I hope to have harvested in a few days.

Part of the condition around the straw incorporation scheme was that I could expect some administrative checks. I was not quite sure what form this checkup would take but, last week, I received a note from the Department asking for invoices to prove that I had purchased both oilseed rape and oats seed in sufficient quantities to meet the obligation.

I sent off the required documentation, so I presume that will be the end of the matter but, obviously, I will facilitate a physical inspection if that is required.

We have closed up some land for a late third cut of silage but in a comparatively new ley we have a horrifying amount of docks

The winter barley straw is long gone and the wheaten straw, all going well, will go to my usual mushroom customer.

We have closed up some land for a late third cut of silage but in a comparatively new ley we have a horrifying amount of docks.

There is also lots of clover but regardless of the desirability of clover, I have no option but to apply a spray to control the docks and to do that effectively, we are going to have to sacrifice the clover.

We really need the plant protection companies to come up with a reliable product that deals with docks without damaging clover.