You need a comfy armchair to farm organically

Organic Arable members have been gathering for a couple of farm walks this week.  The first on Wednesday 2nd and then one yesterday 3rd May.  Fears about the weather were misguided and on neither date did we get wet which was miraculous given recent rains!

On 2nd May we met at Hammonds End Farm, Harpenden, a specialist arable unit with a small beef unit.  Cropping is the main enterprise with wheat, spelt wheat, rye oats and beans grown in the rotation.  Much of the discussion was about weed control with charlock and blackgrass being the weeds of concern this season.  Discussion revolved around the options (and costs) of different weed management strategies.  There were different strategies being tried.  One farmer was moving to more winter cropping to try and reduce his charlock whilst another grows on wide rows and inter-row hoes and uses a weed surfer to cut charlock and later wild oats to reduce them seeding.  The timing of harrow combing was also discussed as was the cost of hand-roguing which was a strategy used by all.

There was also some yellow rust apparent on some of the wheat although at present this was not at concerning levels and hopefully drier weather will help.  There was a good stand of winter beans and further discussions arose about the best way to establish the crop.  Drilled beans provide a smoother field and allow harrowing which can help with weed control but all concluded that beans area  difficult crop and the profitability of them was questioned.  One farmer indicating he'd given up after several attempts.

The visit to Farnicombe Farm, Warminster on Wednesday was to a predominantly livestock farm.  Our host indicated his cereals were bottom of his priority list and needed to fit around his sheep and beef.

That said the crops looked well.  Crops of winter barley and triticale which had been grazed hard until January looked very well.  They were thick and had tillered well because of the grazing and showed no disease.  Again Charlock was present and had recovered despite the sheep grazing.  Also grown were some Spring oats and a Barley/Pea crop to be wholecropped.

Both walks were enthusiastically received and there was good discussion about the various things seen and challenges everyone faces in managing their organic crops.  Whether any answers were found I don't know but as our host in Harpenden commented "It feels better that I'm not the only one with charlock and blackgrass.  It won't make it go away but it somehow seems less of a problem."

And so why the "comfy chair"?  Because our host on Wednesday told us, "you can't do much about the weeds or disease so you may as well sit in a comfy chair and try and forget about them."

These farm walks are part of Organic Arable's ongoing active support of the organic arable sector.  There has been a decline in the opportunities for farmers to meet and network and we wanted to fill this gap and the move has been very much welcomed by our members.  We'd be delighted to be joined by other organic arable producers and if you'd like more information please contact Andrew on 08456 521 706.  The next walk is in Warwickshire on 10th May.