Estate Guide - Arable Unit

Moulton College is accredited under the FABBL Scheme for Combinable Crop Assurance.

More Information:

Estate Guide - Arable Unit

Location:

Based at Lodge Farm

Aim

To demonstrate high standards of management, economic and physical achievement in the operation of a cereal, oilseed rape, and forage based rotation as a primary enterprise within the College farm system.

Summary

RRotations are based upon the use of break crops such as oats, oilseed rape and forage crops to maximise the area of first wheat grown.

The 2008-2009 cropping summary is set out below.

Combinable crops are stored in a 900t store. The store is divided into 4 bays: 2 bays each of 150t and 300t.

The grain store was upgraded in 1998, the loose brick fl oor being replaced with a concrete cast in situ drying floor.

Crops are marketed through Frontier Ltd. Crops are placed into different marketing 'pools'. Oilseed rape and excess feed wheat is placed in the harvest pool for immediate collection from the farm.

Pre-drilling cultivation is dependent upon each individual field's previous cropping, soil structure, soil type and field conditions. OSR is direct drilled using a Sumo subsoiler combination into stubble after wheat. Wheat after OSR is sumoed is subsoiled with a Sumo subsoiler and then drilled using a Kuhn power-harrow/drill combination. Maize, wheat after maize and oats are ploughed and pressed, followed by power harrow/ drill combination (precision drilled by contractor in the case of maize). Once drilled, fields are Cambridge rolled.

The College is accredited under the FABBL Scheme for Combinable Crop Assurance.

Muddy Boots Crop Walker is used in combination with field spreadsheets for crop management recording purposes.

Prime Consultancy provide agronomy services.

Cropping Summary 2008/09

1 Autumn Sheep Keep is double cropped: after wheat, pre Maize fodder