pippartridge

For the first time ever we grew oilseed rape, the variety we chose was Eraton. This was grown on 30 ha in total and we managed to get a yield of 1.75t/acre. We are very happy with this yield as we did have some knocked out by recent thunderstorm.

We drilled the variety on the 17th August 2013, the type of soil is handslope series clay with very low organic matter.

As mentioned above this was our first ever rape crop and we very happy with how straight forward everything went. We didn't experience any disease issues and the phoma was controlled with a fungicide program.

We will growing this again in the Autumn & would recommend to the Farmers Review community.

We now just hope that the price is good for it over conventional oilseed rape...

Having grown Viscout for a number of year it has never let the side down.

Group 3 wheat for us are hit and miss some years no premium due to longer hauls etc

But we have stuck with Viscount as a 1st wheat as it has been consistant.

A little weak on yellow rust a reasonable fungicide program is quite acceptable.
OBMR also helps its profile

Grain quality is always good maintaining bushel weights around 76

This is probably the last year we will grow it, will move to a group 4 ,going to try Evolution.

Having grown Grenado for 3 year we have found it to be a good choice.

Very cheap to grow, only needing a very basic fungicide program.

Herbicide spend can be reduced due to the crops ability to smoother weeds, it tillers very well from a lowish seed rate.

It also stands well being a short varietie. Making combining easy ,although I can be as with all crops difficult to thrash if not totally ripe.

Straw seam plentiful and bright although it doesn't last as long in a yard of cattle as wheat straw in our experience.

As a crop to grow on land not strong enough for wheat, its a cheap and cheerful crop, ideal if you are feeding it to your own stock, the market for it can be difficult when there is a lot of substandard wheat around. Ideal ground for pig meal.

Having grown KWS Cassia for a few years it has proven itself to be a consistent performer.

Drilled in early October it establishes well with vigour.
Having good resistance to brown rust and net blotch,

Being resistant to common strains of barley mosaic viruses also.

Straw seams plentiful, it is taller than KWS Glacier

Overall very nice 2 row feed barley

A very well thought out, well made spreader. Extremely accurate. Our machine with weigh cells has made spreading so much easier when working with bulk product especially. More than happy with it, The back up from Ben Burgess has been good when parts are needed. Control box feels a little dated now. Excellent hopper with well fitting cover. Good reflectors and road lights. Very even spread, not had a stripe yet. Excellent fertiliser data (always updated) direct from the Amazone website/ smart phone app. Will be looking at Amazone when renewing again.

Axion 850 09. Very good engine, plenty of power. In cab controls are very nice. Rear and front linkage really good. Hexashift gearbox is ok, smooth shifts. Spool valve output and control very good. Fender mounted controls superb. The points that have let the tractor down for me are A. the seat has been an issue due too the uncomfortable base that really is a pain in the backside. This is still trying to be sorted out after more than 3 year owner ship. B. The tractor was sold complete with fully fitted RTK system and the assurance that I would be supplied with the signal from Class. This has been the biggest let down, Although my dealer has tried, The system has been a complete waste of time and money due to the inability to supply me a signal that is of usable quality. In Short a good tractor let has left me frustrated with those 2 points that I think a professional company like Claas should have sorted out a long time before now. It has left me questioning another Claas tractor purchase. These problems are still being looked at and hopefully sorted out. So I may be able to review this again as a Happy Claas tractor owner.