2020 harvest is go and, already, it's not going to plan!

2020 Harvest is underway with the winter linseed harvested and wheat harvest about to start. But after such a tricky season, it's not going as well as hoped.

[@_Daio_]

I've come to like this channel more than the car one, I like the car one because I like cars, but I find this channel so interesting. When we had that dry spell, I was praying for rain for a guy I've never met and probably never will, and I have a convertible that I've not had much chance to enjoy this year. I think I'll always think of farmers now when we have wet-dry spells, the weird thing is my first job was on a farm when I was only 9, but I've always lived rurally and I even rented a big farmhouse on a working farm for 3 years and even now at 50 years of age I'm still surrounded by farms, yet I've learned more from this channel than all of that. So thanks for the free education Harry, you're a great teacher.

[@jonathan9380]

Couldn't have put it better myself. Great channel 👏

[@vanilakung7563]

I also have found that i watch Harrys farm channel more then hes car channel

[@kenneyflynn4951]

Me too, find so interesting and informative. Thanks to Harry

[@rcpmac]

“and I have a convertible “😆

[@yogibreen]

I absolutely agree. Very informative to a non-farmer who is surrounded by farms. Thanks Harry.

[@TomPembertonFarmLife]

Sorry to hear about the poor yields Harry, we are having issues with to much rain here in the north west. Very interesting video

[@aubreycassell4034]

were not having the worst yields here and we have to get in 5,500 but last year was an amazing yield in Oxfordshire

[@aubreycassell4034]

ive been watching you for years keep up the great work

[@sh-hg4eg]

Doesn't help that the North West is the wettest area of England, only second to the western Highlands for the UK.

[@nickhill3362]

Harry I am pleased you tell us the financial side of farming it makes for a very interesting farming channel hope your other business ventures can continue to help support your farming journey .Great content as always thanks Harry 👍

[@tbillington]

Definitely agree. Quantifying the loss or gain with real numbers based on the climate for the season makes it so much more informative.

[@mtl-ss1538]

Kiwi farmer breaks own world record with monster wheat crop... Guinness World Record for the highest wheat yield with a crop producing 17.398 tonnes per hectare. www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/122074530/kiwi-farmer-breaks-own-world-record-with-monster-wheat-crop

[@wcads623]

Yes very informative for all us rural living non-farmers. Yes walking the dog across the fields today and around here in Leicestershire worryingly our local farmers do not seem to be combining at all and the fields are just full of rotting wheat??? What's going on Harry???

[@HROM1908]

I am an avid follower of both your channels. Great work, I've learned so much.

[@chrisclark7181]

Fascinating as ever Mr M !

[@itslukkeee]

This channel is fascinating, as someone else said as a car guy ironically I'm more excited to watch this than your other channel, keep it up Harry I love these videos

[@martinrivermoore9545]

There are three ways to go bankrupt Betting, women and farming. Betting being the most elegant, women the most joyful and farming the surest.

[@SmashGhost]

Four: Motor racing

[@bagpusslxv4858]

Don’t forget what George Best said - “I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered” 😂😂

[@andyphillips7435]

SmashGhost ocean yacht racing.

[@djwnakata9406]

Be good to see a video explaining why costs in farming are so high, even before machinery costs are taken into account. Great video as ever Harry.

[@geraldswain3259]

Looks like The game birds and finches etc are the only one's on a profit this year Harry ,with that lovely cover crop .I'm sure i saw a covey of partridge's chuckling in the hedgerow .

[@martinslocombe2288]

Brilliant vid as usual i`m watching the harvest on my local farm this weekend in st Margarets they`ve taken the Barley today i think they`ll start the wheat tomorrow . Its great to have Harry to give a commentary on the farming cycle ,i`ve learned so much .

[@Rickwardful]

Hi Harry, Great videos. I am not that far from you. Unbelievable year and am just as frustrated as you about your Linseed as it looked like it had faired so well through the drought. Could it have been very very late severe frosts in May that are equally, if not more to blame? My Winter Barley yields were poor, but especially so where those late frosts had got to them, damaging its flowering and causing bind grain-sites. On the part of the farm that didn’t get those frosts, the yield was very much better, but still only raising the average to 2 tons/acre-ish! Let’s us all hope for a better farming year next year! Especially for (Winter) Linseed, which I shall be growing for the first time. Partly because growing Oilseed Rape is now completely out of the question thanks to Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle thanks to the ban on Neonic seed dressings and partly because of your videos on growing Linseed look(ed!) so encouraging!

[@grayfool]

It's been a pretty awful year for everyone so far. Fingers crossed for the wheat.

[@jetyn8]

Geo Engineering is causing all of this damage, being done on purpose,

[@mtl-ss1538]

@@jetyn8 Kiwi farmer breaks own world record with monster wheat crop... Guinness World Record for the highest wheat yield with a crop producing 17.398 tonnes per hectare. www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/122074530/kiwi-farmer-breaks-own-world-record-with-monster-wheat-crop

[@kittonsmitton]

You have such a positive disposition and an even keel Harry you are a legend in my books M8!

[@johnnytrigger5512]

No financial worries, his own boss and healthy. Living the dream is why id wager😊

[@bigal2312]

Binge watched all of these videos in a few days after a mention from Tom Pemberton. I am impressed at just how much I've been able to learn from them. I'm champing at the bit for the next installment.

[@davebarton9301]

You know Harry your missing a trick on that chaff out the back! It makes perfect horse bedding.

[@npet6842]

The lack of predictability in this game would drive me nuts .

[@eldorado767]

Thanks, Harry, and good luck with the rest of the harvest-

[@stevenniels]

Interesting about the Linseed yield. We had a very wet winter, then a hot spring. But in the hot spring we also had a lot of cold, clear nights. I think the crop sustained shock events because of the very high temperatures differences day and night and this may have effected yields due to plant development problems early on. Just an opinion but backed up by my poor tomato yields!

[@VanderlyndenJengold]

Our apple crop was decimated by late frost. It appears we'll have to rapidly adapt to climate change as there's no alternative. The next few years with Brexit will be crucial too.

[@stevenniels]

@@VanderlyndenJengold Late frost is, as you say, hugely damaging and we lost all of our crab apples. This are tough buggers and I was very surprised. We measured - 6 Deg C during the last last frost of this year and it burnt off leaves of trees that are normally last to emerge. However, the multiple shocks to the plants from hot days and cold - but not freezing - nights is known to damage plant growth. However, Harry's Linseed looked really good in flower yet produced poor yields. A lot of Linseed is grown around us in N. Oxfordshire and I guess those growers have suffered the same. The only plus side is prices may rise especially if imported Linseed gets hit by tariffs after Jan 1 2021. We are witnessing climate change and will need to adapt.

[@paulmarchant9231]

@@VanderlyndenJengold climate change? We've ALWAYS had to contend with late frosts, they are generally quite local but entirely predictable, cold air flows downhill, so know your local conditions or speak to the old timers from your area and LISTEN to them.

[@VanderlyndenJengold]

@@paulmarchant9231I should have used a separate paragrapgh between my frost damge and climate change. I know enough about frost damage in my location. If you have watched Harry's videos you will know why I mention climate change.

[@simonupex2628]

Hi Harry I don't know whether you'll read this but it might be worth sounding out your farmer buddies and clubbing together and investing in some bee's specifically for linseed and osr, that way you won't solely be relying on the low natural population that is becoming more prevalent.

[@Balfour99]

Fascinating Harry really enjoy / appreciate it. Good luck with the wheat. What shame after all the time and effort invested.

[@petergarthwaite6805]

What a job you’ve got I thought textiles was bad good luck with your further harvests 👍👍

[@barrysheridan9186]

Thanks for the update Harry. Always informative.

[@johnfowler3873]

And here I am trying to protect my tomato plants from a rouge deer. Great video Harry. Here's to 2020 wheat and on to 2021!

[@paulculley4729]

Fascinating stuff, I'm having similar problems in my garden!

[@IanRMcAllister]

Another educational video on farming - Thank You! Sorry about your yeild, but sounds like the whole season is a write-off everywhere. Let's hope the wheat does its (economic) job - Good Luck!

[@richardallsop5039]

Hello Harry, at one point you looked like a 'Linseed Whisper', very interesting vlog. Regards, RichardA.

[@guinnessharvey4476]

Gutted for you, Harry. I reckon a walk around your car garage should cheer you up a bit:)

[@whatleytom]

Harry needs a segment on Countryfile

[@paulmarchant9231]

Certainly should be on TV somewhere..... Easy to listen to by both non farmers and farmers, doesn't talk down to anybody but gives an honest report with honest opinions and feelings.... .nice chap

[@rivaterrier]

We are puzzled as to why our local farmer has recently cut a mix that included quite a lot of sunflowers amongst other things in a couple. We assumed that it would be cut and then ploughed back in.

[@marcob1729]

I wonder if there are any observations that can be made by a machine/drone to predict such a shortfall

[@barriepayne1690]

Though news Harry ,hope you have better results with rebuilt car?

[@stevedowling2309]

Surely the price per ton will increase to compensate for poor yield? If every farmer is in the same boat

[@waterbuoy9121]

Is the price per tonne not likely to rise if yields are down in general, or have others areas managed to get more usual yields?

[@clodbustermx170]

It has risen , last year wheat prices were only £130/ton 😞

[@jamesavickers5961]

Keep Looking for the positives harry mate grazie ciao

[@GenaF]

Why would the linseed fail so spectacularly? It seems strange it's had the strength to grow the pods but with so very little seeds? I am disappointed for you.

[@Majonaify]

Think of the lack of rain the UK has had this year, didnt rain from March until late May so the plant was heavily stressed.

[@chrisdaniels3929]

I think lack of water, nothing to photosynthesise.

[@classicraceruk1337]

Would that still be the case if the U.K. was still in the EU Harry?

[@clarkedgaredgar4214]

You have to take the good with the bad . Dry years affect wheat production worse than on milo grains .

[@111Aardvark]

Looks like you didn't have enough pollination at the flowering stage ...

[@baronvonhoughton]

2020 though! What a year.

[@stevejones1967]

Harry if the linseed is performing poorly everywhere, wont that push the price per ton up, and compensate for some of your loss ?

[@Majonaify]

Theoritically yes but the price is capped by the price of imported supply, as well as other 'oilseeds' which can be substituted for linseed for its end market.

[@stevenhorne5089]

Could you tell me what the farmers do in the U.S. that you'd like to see the U.K. do?

[@stevefuller1779]

When there is a low crop doesn't that mean the price goes up?

[@bencrow6663]

That's a real shame Harry. Keep your chin up.

[@archibaldchimpin]

Gutted for you Harry,

[@bagpusslxv4858]

Do you know anyone else with a linseed crop that has had this type of shortfall or is it something specific to your crop?

[@michaelmacdonell4834]

No plan survives first contact with the enemy! The British Weather seems to be somewhat playful!

[@vargh]

Excellent!

[@henryfarrell1]

Harry, I would suggest a gimble for your camera/iPhone when recording, I get a bit seasick lookin at some of your videos. Enjoy your videos all the same, hope the harvest comes good for you.

[@buddyhirshfield5970]

Do you have crop insurance

[@zandvoort8616]

How do you farmers afford these huge trackers and machinery from selling plants? Surely they cost tens of thousands of pounds?

[@clarkedgaredgar4214]

Must have been too dry . That's what happened our crops 8yes. Ago .

[@jonhoneyball194]

and we're in!

[@petedavis8701]

What with Farmer’s crops and the bloody Covid the Country is sure in trouble!

[@IntrabuildV]

I had to scroll all the way through to find a climate change reference, here's another. Harry, is it something that's going unsaid in farming or is there any data/guidance coming through?

[@paulmarchant9231]

It's cold in winter, it's hot in summer, sometimes it rains sometimes it doesn't, but you can still farm by the calendar, there's always seasonal variation, but seedtime is seedtime and harvest time is harvest time.... I've seen nothing to demonstrate any " climate change" as the term is generally taken.... It's always changed.

[@IntrabuildV]

@@paulmarchant9231 unless there are no seeds in the pods - then it's not seedtime it's non-seedtime. I was hoping for info on farming related climate data (science), not some playschool weather report

[@sh-hg4eg]

Science™! The same science that was telling us we were heading for an ice age in the 70s, global warming in the 90s/2000's and now we're being told about some (purposely?) vague "climate change".

[@darrenphillips6456]

Just think of it as development land.

[@sh-hg4eg]

No.

[@earthstick]

Just wondering, it looks like farmers help each other out a lot with machinery. A neighbouring farmer brings his supersized lawn mower, cattle graze in a field etc. Is that done on an exchange of favours basis or financial transaction for fuel, time, wear and tear?

[@harrysfarmvids]

Very common to share kit like that between farmers. I lend my cultivator out quite regularly, as well as my excavator, etc. Generally done on a rental basis, otherwise it could get out of hand!

[@abhinavbodas]

So from what I remember he said he had a 400 acre farm(?). Overall in a good year, I think the farm makes around 50k GBP net profit? Maybe 80k? Seems to be an awful lot of work for what I'd consider to be middle class income.

[@Xiao_PP]

No idea what there doing wrong but its something ... 400 acres and you cant make a buck need to look at your expences and rethink what your farming

[@19298701]

i assume Harry owns the farm... a 400 ac farm in the cotswalds with a decent house would be worth 5-6 million.if you had that in the bank at current interest rates(0.1%) you would earn about 50k. but youve got a house ,income,tax breaks and live in a beautiful party of the world so i think its not to bad

[@kerrygleeson4409]

👍🇦🇺👀

[@BokorRider]

farming never stops heres a 1938 film about it ! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJTcq3R_oLKqqMk

[@dav3bpt]

Keep it up Harry your a credit to the country. We need a hardworking wise man like you at the top to sort out the mess in Westminster. If the farm struggles for money feel free to make more videos no matter what it’s about and I’ll happily support with likes and comments.

[@nickbitten6037]

Wow- and i thought my 25 tomato plants were labour intensive. Seriously though a great video & very educational. Cirencester Agricultural students should view this. Good luck with the wheat Harry. ( bet you could have a great DTL set up there too ).

[@ozodyssey5528]

Shame there's no linseed futures market, or would watching this video be considered insider trading?

[@rcpmac]

ozodyssey not if it’s in the public domain

[@PeakTorque]

Espada rebuild and linseed loss, gonna have to tell Mrs M there’s no goose this Christmas. Spam and spuds!

[@tbillington]

Different watch this week Harry I see👍. Looks like a nice vintage GMT on an oyster bracelet.

[@ejs811]

Pepsi I think. Same as in his recent M5 vid.

[@ianmedium]

Yeah, I think we have seen it before, looks like the Pepsi bezel has nicely faded, not surprising as Harry is not afraid to get his hands dirty!

[@ejs811]

@@ianmedium a brand new Pepsi doesn't come on oyster bracelet so yes it looks a few years old.

[@mtl-ss1538]

Kiwi farmer breaks own world record with monster wheat crop... Guinness World Record for the highest wheat yield with a crop producing 17.398 tonnes per hectare. www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/122074530/kiwi-farmer-breaks-own-world-record-with-monster-wheat-crop

[@FarmerP]

I’m sorry to learn about the poor Linseed harvest Harry. Fingers crossed your wheat will exceed 3 Tonnes per acre.

[@BoxTunnel]

I've read recently that Jeremy Clarkson's new farm series has been postponed due to the awful year that farmers have had. Nice to see Harry still farming, telling us the facts and remaining positive. I guess that's the difference between a real farmer and a "celebrity" farmer.

[@robertbcope]

The economics of farming is really confusing to me. It seems like this farm would be out of business in no time if it weren't for the apparent money in the bank from EVO magazine or whatever.

[@peterh9238]

i've never understood the economics of farming. The money side seems to be a 'delicate' subject for some and not talked about openly. Pity

[@Electricdreams21]

They get a lot of subsidies from the government and the EU

[@jackcaven9614]

EU subsidies account for 60% of revenue for Farmers in the EU zone ... it's not really an industry anymore . We Taxpayers in the UK would actually be better off without Farms ... it's crazy but true!

[@dxg999]

Plus, there's always this channel's income to fall back on!!

[@paulf2529]

Many farms as landowners have other income streams like b and bs holiday cottages and the like. Farming is a long term business, so profit from a year of high yields will be put aside to offset those years with lower yields. Many farms will also benefit from subsidies and stewardship schemes etc and again this is farm income.

[@peterh9238]

Thanks for posting this Harry, much appreciated 👍 Would love to get into farming, but it seems a massive gamble. Best of luck to you and all farmers for the season.

[@gholfin2124]

Judging by how many people were paying to walk around a Cotswold lavender field yesterday, maybe turn a few acres over to lavender or a coffee shop like your local garden centre, charge what you want, my Mrs will pay it anyway 😫

[@AdamJRichardson]

There's a lavender farm near where I live. Very pretty indeed, but unbelievably labor intensive - has to be tended almost entirely by hand, tedious and backbreaking work.

[@EleanorPeterson]

Whilst we're comparing yield notes... Ahem! I'm in West Yorkshire. My two tiny apple trees - Bramley and Discovery - have only managed to set 4 and 1 fruits respectively this year, bless 'em. That dry weather almost killed them. The tomatoes and sweet peppers (in an 8' lean-to greenhouse) are producing bucketloads of stuff (yummy) and the brambles trained along the side of my garage are groaning under the weight of a monster crop of blackberries. Crumble and custard awaits... But those apples are pitiful. My 6 (rescue) hens won't stop laughing. Shut the cluck up, ladies, and lay those eggs! I've had them for just over a year, and they're doing really well. They looked so sad when I first got them - scrawny and dull-eyed, and hardly any feathers - but they soon perked up, and now they're glossy and gorgeous. They tear my small garden to shreds, but they're friendly and calm - and I'm still getting an egg a day from each of them (that's too good to last...). Whatever. Hooray for chickens. Boo for linseed. Yay for Harry. :-)

[@johnnytrigger5512]

😉🙉🙉

[@chrisdaniels3929]

Lancashire apple harvest looks heavy. I have one tree in the garden lol.

[@terrygreen4338]

Cheers Harry good video ,it has been a very different year, keep calm and carry on 🚜

[@samherbert1724]

Could u do a machinery tour plz ....great video

[@TheCarBloke]

The more I watch, the more I understand why farmers decide to sell off land for housing as it’s just so up and down each year. I know that Harry said he’s not doing that though!

[@johnnytrigger5512]

😔😔 he must be getting more monetary return in the long run from said land🙈

[@maxtorque2277]

The episode that brings Harry literally to his knees......

[@mtl-ss1538]

Kiwi farmer breaks own world record with monster wheat crop... Guinness World Record for the highest wheat yield with a crop producing 17.398 tonnes per hectare. www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/122074530/kiwi-farmer-breaks-own-world-record-with-monster-wheat-crop

[@FatoumamoniquecuisineDZ16]

Wow qu’elle machine super vidéo mon papa adoré avoir cette moissonneuse batteuse pour sa petite ferme 😃 merci beaucoup Harry’s farm

[@jackw9920]

Pity about the linseed. I think it’s important to discuss the figures so people understand farming isn’t the licence to print money that some people seem to think it is.

[@JulianPhilipNicolls]

Hope the wheat makes up a bit for the linseed.

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

So, a cover crop is sown, grown, then cultivated back into a field to provide food for the worms. The main stream media, especially the papers never mention this when they're running an article on "greedy farmers" etc.

[@paulmarchant9231]

Mostly channel four..... The truth is, us farm folk LIVE in the countryside that we care for.... What type of idiot would do anything to destroy the environment around their homes?

[@colinmayes9446]

Thank you Harry, another honest video with more information to keep the people informed, best wishes to you from East Anglia.

[@Ksilva2]

Hey Harry keep it up Cheers from Ceylon

[@gmac7947]

Would never of thought 💭 it......... Love HARRY’S FARM 🏎 🚜

[@antonoat]

Really sorry about your Linseed, proves to those who don't know a farmers lot is not a certain one , let's hope the government do all they can to help farmers moving forward. cheers. PS love these videos from life on the farm!

[@guinnessharvey4476]

Really fascinating to hear all about your farming exploits. Love both your channels. Do you reckon John Deere might do a Lamborghini and make a sports car one day:)

[@thecorbies]

Hi Harry. What I know about farming you could balance on the head of a pin - apart from what I've learned through your channel. Brilliant! So, having declared that I know nothing, I'm just wondering about the poor Linseed crop. Is it even remotely possible that the seed you sowed was somehow defective, perhaps genetically(?) in the sense that it just wasn't EVER going to produce much, or is truly down to the growing conditions? I ask because I can remember in the 60's and the early days of my parents vegetable garden them buying seeds and the crop was poor, and so they doubted the source. Later they increasingly retained some of their own crop for planting next time so the source was known to them. They weren't hybridising or anything, just planting seed from known good crops. One final question. Are there such things as rogue seed merchants? I suppose the obvious answer is, where there is money to be made, there will be, but no doubt you have your own reliable merchant. Anyway, apologies for a long comment, but just curious. Regards Mark in the UK

[@wattck]

Not a great year all round is it, a lot of money lost in many industries. Who'd be a Farmer this year, but then, who'd be in hospitality, events or travel? A year to get over and get on I think. Short supply should see a better price? There's dearth of Hay and grass hasn't grown well to feed livestock, grassland with grazing livestock often looks bare. Too much rain early on too little later, a weather pattern that doesn't suit. Better luck Next year. These are very informative and watchable video's. I like the car video's which are interesting but they don't excite quite as the Farming ones do. Keep making both you are a very natural presenter, and whatever you do, Have Fun doing it, that's what Life is all about, to be lived, not just getting by. ^-)

[@HQBProductions]

Harry has that rare gift of effortless and interesting communication. His car channel is outstanding for honest reviews and interesting insights into cars with reputations deserved or not. Then farming...my Great Uncles were Somerset farmers and I grew up as a regular visitor so saw farming from an early age. Harry though, makes the subject enthralling...you understand his thoughts on good or bad news...we learn a lot and as many say, his channel is involving and engaging even if farming is a mystery to some of us. I look forward to everything Harry brings to us..Well done Sir..I hope the harvest will eventually have some good news somehow but 2020 is a year to forget for countless reasons.🙂🙂🙂

[@jpcreavin92]

I never skip the ads to help my man Harry 👍🤣

[@andrewbragger2679]

Does this make a difference? I always skip as soon as possible. Should I stop skipping ads?

[@andrewgurney6019]

If things get really tough Harry, please let me have the first option on the Fiat 500, ok?

[@swiper1818]

Sorry for your farm’s misfortune...fingers crossed for the rest of the harvest

[@rodneynelson3862]

Sorry to hear about the disappointing yield of linseed Harry. Some much hard work for you and your family. Hopefully the wheat yield will be above your expectations.

[@darrennolan3332]

Great video Harry. Maybe should have titled the vid - '2020 harvest is GO GO GO' and then some form of 'Murray-ism'. 👍

[@wattck]

Pessimistic Forecasts of yields and costings are the only realistic way to plan effectively. Optimistic and fall short is disaster, Pessimistic and exceed is a bonus. Good to see realism in thought and planning, you can't beat it.

[@mariogatt2055]

So sorry to hear Harry, fingers crossed for the wheat, keep up the great videos

[@benpattinson1]

Hope the head fill for the wheat was more successful and the yields make up. You didn’t fancy a no till experiment direct into the mustard crop then?

[@ritchiechristopher5603]

keep up the good work Harry - farming is a way of life my friend.

[@shawnh8754]

Do the world and your health a favor and put the Roundup away - Forever! Nasty stuff.

[@PrairieSunsetRanch]

Harvest going on and Im still haying! LOL 😂 Cheers 🍻from Prairie Sunset Ranch☀️

[@rpjwhite]

Sad Times Harry hope yields improve.

[@MKRM27]

A financial disaster? Farming in the U.K. - especially in small farms like this one - is a financial disaster before a seed is sown. Given it is all supported by subsidies and grants, it’s surely more of a hobby than a business.

[@paulsimpson.417]

It still puts food in your belly

[@paulmarchant9231]

It's not " all supported by subsidies and grants" some sectors are, but many don't get a penny. Truth is, no farmer wants " subsidies" , they want a fair price for their produce, but supermarkets want to sell you food at below the cost of production

[@edharmsen4437]

Roundup>>kills bees>>low pollination>>low yield?