To be honest the seat in the Case isn’t great so the wooden one on the Claas isn’t that bad!

Thanks for the comment it was a fun day especially with my sister and family visiting. It’s a shame they came on the train with only one suitcase available for potatoes.

Thanks Helen it was a fun day.

My dad renovated the Dexta a few years ago. I think it is around 58/59. My dad bought it secondhand a long time ago from a local dairy farmer, he then gave it to the local playing fields association when it was no longer used very much. He then bought it back a few years ago for a bit of a project. I am glad he did it’s great to drive.

It’s a great combine. I can’t believe our case combine will be as easy to get going when it gets to that age.

We were really lucky with the weather on Orkney it is probably not like that a lot of the time. We could really do with a few weeks of that sunshine here in Yorkshire now but I think we will just have to try and make the most of the damp weather we are having at the moment.

It’s a great machine. I amazes me how well it works.

No unfortunately I must have a thing for cars not always appreciated by others. We have changed Bingo for a Berlingo van which is fine but lacks character. We have a 4x4 panda which is great and a defender which I can’t think why you would drive unless it has a trailer on it to hide some of its shortcomings.

Modern machines cover the ground so quickly today that even fewer people experience what you are taking about. Modern machines also remove you from much of what is happening around you. That can be great on long days but yes I think we are all missing out on something. Thanks for the comment. Mike

Thanks for the comment. I hope the farming goes well.

I thank a 135 is about 34hp and a 165 about 58hp

I think it does help tillering but I think we were a bit late for that effect on the oats. It was a bit too wet when we really wanted them on so just a bit of extra grazing at the moment.

No sure what happened to the garage but we had two cars from them and the service was always great and well priced as well.

Yes it’s nice when they manage with no help.

Didn’t see any water pumps but it was great to see what the local mechanics were doing in the villages.

Happy new to you as well. We have really enjoyed Christmas and new year there is always stock to look after but it is really nice to do the work with visiting family members but without everyday pressures hope you are looking forward to this year.

Sorry for the slow reply. I remembered to ask my dad today the Dexta is a 58 and the 35 is a 61.

@J Stringer & sons farming thank you for the it's very important to keep the farming history alive.

Thanks Will it amazes me how effective some of my dads old machines are. I am sure we can’t go back but I think most people would agree there has been a bit of something lost with progress. Mike

Hi Helen It has been a hard year for the dew pond but there is no shortage of water in it now. There were loads of newts and plenty of frog spawn this spring but we had to keep adding some water for a few weeks until all of the young frogs had left. It may stay a bit damper next year when a bit of the vegetation has grown back. I don’t think it has changed much since you lived at Low Callis.

Hi Colin They only quite small stones so not usually a problem. We did destine for potatoes but otherwise they help with drainage but not with wearing parts.

@@jstringerandsonsfarming Thank you, best wishes from East Anglia.

Thanks for watching Robert. Unfortunately I didn’t get the clover seed separated out this year because the rye was on a seed contract and went very soon after harvest. When we separated the clover seed out in 2021 we got about 10kg/acre of clover seed but the rye wasn’t that good.

@@jstringerandsonsfarming The cover made up for the rye. Would you grow clover specifically for seed?

@@roberthiggins6401 I never thought we would be able to grow clover seed here. We go up to about 800 feet so damp late harvests are normal apart from this year. However I think if you can direct drill into an established clover with a cereal then we seem to be able to harvest both. If it doesn’t work then the clover is great for the soil and the stock. I have talked about it with a local seed merchant but haven’t got that far yet.

We are quite happy to graze most of our winter cereals in March. I don’t know weather it helps tillering or not but it gives the permanent grasses a bit more time to grow in spring and I think it can help to stop things like rye getting too tall. It also helps the smaller tillers on the plants develop with less shade.

Same here.

And me. 48