2018/9 crop updates

Hi John. Just let me know today if you’d need me to deliver on Wednesday, sounds like maybe it’s already set up though. 

I’ve messaged a friend who mills at Worsbrough Mill to see if they might want any Millers Choice, see if she gets back to me, how much do we have to sell? Do you know if any still functioning water or wind mills in the area that might take it as local grain? Other than e5 I don’t know that many working mills...maybe Tuxford? 

I’d love to buy 50kg of the YQ grain if possible too like Annie. I’m helping run a small bread subscription bakery down in Somerset at the moment. We change grains every week and email out info so people can understand a bit more about what they’re tasting and the systems their grown in. I could pick it up on Wednesday if I was delivering the other stuff to e5? 

Hoping to set up a small urban mill (one of the New American Stone Mills) in Bristol in the coming year and bakery/teaching space with a friend, still very early stages of getting funding and space, but we will need more grains than are currently up for getting than Fred (the farmer who’s part of our South West Grains Network) can produce so hopefully if there’s any of John Letts to sell next harvest and it’s good quality, we’d be interested in some. Whatever the group collectively wants though.

All the best.

Dear John

Very many thanks for the update on getting the grain to E5. I thought I had sent a message last week with a suggestion. But I cannot see it in the string. I said that I would be willing to pay for half the cost of transporting the 4 tonne consignment to Hackney. I agree we should reinforce the connection with E5 with a timely delivery. Please confirm that you have seen this message. Tony (Allan)

Thanks @Rosy Benson for your offer. The wheat will be in half tonne bags. I have provisionally booked a lorry to take 4 tonnes in on Wednesday as e5 are running very low apparently. If we thought we could arrange some alternative for the rest of the tonnage, I'd happily go along with cancelling that and let you take in half a tonne to keep them going. Otherwise it might be best to get 4 tonnes to them to give us some breathing space.

@Annie Landless has reminded me that we still have the MC and Crusoe to sell. I suspect no-one will pay a premium for the Crusoe and was going to propose that we add it to our heap which is currently leaving the farm at £150/tonne. The Millers Choice should be worth some more if anyone knows anyone who wants a couple of tonnes of heritage wheat to mill. I've no idea what it is worth, but even if it was £300/tonne, that is only 30p/kg for Annie, or anyone else, to home mill. Very good value! I'll keep a bit of the YQ back too in case anyone else want a go.

John

Thanks for the update @John Cherry! If the collective is happy with it, I wondered if I could buy a very small quantity of the YQ / Millers / Crusoe to try home milling them into flour, as I got a table top grain mill for my birthday. Would be amazing to have a go at making something with them! :)

Thanks for the great update and all your hard work. I have a small van and and am free this Wednesday If that could help, for the first load (Christines idea of joining an already existing route would be great too for further deliveries) I could take up to 600-700kg. Is it just in 25kg bags already or tonne bags? Happy to just recuperate for petrol and congestion charge as I’m due a pop in at e5 anyway and it would be quite a nice thing to do as I know all about the grain and the project! if their milling straight away that means it’ll be in the bread really soon so everyone in London get over there and taste that bread!

all the best to everyone!

John,

Many thanks for the update and great news that the YQ is of good quality and a buyer and that the Letts mix hopefully will have survived the wet weather. Transporting the grain seems a problem - it would be great if we could find an existing transport link - say one that already delivers in your area from London who could take bags of grain on the way back - thinking of something like organic fruit and veg box deliveries etc. Just a thought.

A quick update on marketing the YQ (Wakelyn's Population) we grew last year.

Having cleaned it up a bit and moved it into a grain bin at the other end of the village, we discovered that we had much more YQ than Crusoe (approx 24 tonnes to 12). This is encouraging, but not surprising really as the YQ was grown on the 'better' half of the field and it had a light coating of compost. It also is 'designed' to do better in a low-input regime.

I took samples from all three plots (YQ, Crusoe and Miller's Choice) to e5 Bakehouse so they could test grind and bake and see if it would work for them. The YQ passed with flying colours and they've agreed to buy it, all we need to do is clean it thoroughly, put it in half-tonne bags and deliver it to Hackney. The first two are easily sorted...we have the mobile seed cleaner coming here on Monday, they will clean it up and bag it. The delivery is proving more problematic. Anyone got a van?

With the new clean air regs that Londoners now enjoy, comes a massive headache for hauliers. No wonder everything is so expensive in London, the best price I've had so far is well over £100/tonne to get it there, not helped that e5 are tucked up for space and can only take 4 tonnes at a time. Need to get the first batch there earlyish next week, as they are running out of grain to mill. We'll sort something out, I daresay.

Meanwhile, most of this years Letts mix has got away ok. The continual wet has rotted some seed in the ground; we won't be able to tell what we've got till things dry out a bit and the plants start moving (not like triffids, but upwards). Fingers crossed. Have got a photo somewhere that I'll post soon

John

Dear John
Thank you for the update. We shall be thinking of you today as you drill OurField. Soil drainage seems to be in good order. We hope you can catch the fine weather which is forecast for today. Best TonyA

Thanks for the agreement, everybody.
We picked up (most of) the seed from John Letts today and will be planting it tomorrow directly into last years stubble/clover/weed cover. It looks like the last dry day for a while. The ground is in good order, considering how much rain we've had, a testament to non-disturbance and minimal inputs. We've been doing quite a bit of drilling these last few days...anyone who's moved their soil (with cultivations) is struggling.
John

@johncherry that sounds a great idea, suddenly energising us as well as a group and moving us in a direction that makes sense. I am all in favour of your suggestion to proceed without another vote (and sorry for being one of the quiet ones recently).

This sounds like a great way forward for Our Field.

Thanks, John, and yes, a get-together and a chance for John Letts to meet the group would be great.

The varieties I can't help you with, but John would love to come and talk to you all about it. We perhaps should organise an autumn get-together, a late harvest celebration.
The plan is that no weed-killers or fertilisers be used. Too much fertility and the wheat falls over. Whilst standing, they out-compete the weeds. Likewise they shouldn't need fungicides. I can't wait...

That’s sounds like it could be a very good plan, @johncherry so yes I’m in favour.
Can we have the detail in what the varieties are that are included in the seed from John Letts?
And can I ask will you use any fertiliser and/weed killer on the field?

Sounds amazing! Thanks so much for your efforts in seeking a way forward (I have definitely been one of the quiet ones). It’s a yes from me and I’m happy to formalise that affirmation in vote form if set up. Thanks again, Ben

Dear John
Thank you for all you have done to make the options possible. I am strongly in favour of all you suggest and that you go ahead without a vote. We still have to have the permission of Nature. The weather. Nothing is ever easy.

It is very good indeed that marketing is part of the package. Thank you for making sure there is a good destination for what will be produced.
Best TonyA

I think this sounds great. I love the idea of ourfield beer and gin (though obviously that's going to be extra work/decisions to be made). I'd be happy for you to go ahead with the heritage landrace mix - I approve of this going ahead without a vote, given all the circumstances, though I think a vote would be best, if possible, and if it goes ahead I'd vote yes!

It’s a yes from me. I can’t join in the conversation about the use of glyphosate but start talking about beer and gin and I’m all over it! 😊

Andy Walker

\s

WEB: www.gingerbreadbakery.co.uk ( http://www.gingerbreadbakery.co.uk )

Sounds great!
Go ahead!

Niki

OK..a plan:

I've just had a long chat with John Letts, who has some seed that he is prepared to lend us. This would be suitable for a no-till organic system, a low fertility, low yield continuous cereal experiment that I alluded to above. He is proposing we have mainly his heritage wheat landrace and also some rye and barley (he doesn't have enough wheat seed for the whole field).

He would want to be involved with the marketing of whatever we grow, as he is protective about his seed and would like a say in where it goes. He has good markets; the miller he is proposing to use would be able to bag ourfield flour in 1.5kg bags for the collective to use, sell or give as Christmas presents. There would also be cash to pay you guys back.

The rye could be turned into ourfield gin (he has a market lined up for this too) and the barley into ourfield beer. Or you flog the lot and trouser the cash...we can decide all that later. I'm merely saying this project could rejuvenate ourfield. You've all been a bit quiet lately!

Unfortunately, there isn't much time. We should be drilling (sowing) the wheat now. The ground is a bit wet atm, but will soon dry if we get a few days without downpours. John can get us the seed later this week, we can plant next week (weather permitting). The barley maybe better in the spring, we'll see how late it gets. There is enough money in the kitty to cover this whole operation and we shouldn't need to spend anything until next harvest. We also have wheat to sell from this harvest.

Do you want @grahamehunter to set up a poll or do we just go ahead unless you all scream 'no'? This is potentially a really exciting project with important lessons for low impact farming and we are in a fabulous position to promote it , through ourfield and Groundswell.

We need to know by the weekend...we will grow this on another field if you don't want to, so the seed won't be wasted. And you'll need another plan if the answer is no...

John

Computer print out from combine.
Wakelyns at top. Miller's choice in middle in red. Crusoe at bottom

Dear Kirsten
Your comments are useful.
Best TonyA

I like the idea of a longer term experiment which means fewer decisions from the group (if I understood the continuous heritage wheat suggestion correctly). This isn't because I want to abdicate decision making (well, maybe a little), but sometimes it feels our decisions are rushed and having a multi-year plan might allow us to make more considered decisions?

Dear John
Your comments are much appreciated. As far as I am concerned I would be happy if you make the decision on what to do next. I say this because you are close to all the uncertainties and unexpected options - for example whether we can purchase landrace seed and what can be marketed. These are be just some of such uncertainties. Comments form members would be appreciated.
We had exceptionally heavy rain in London yesterday - Tuesday.1 October 2019. Were the Lannock Manor fields also affected?
Best TonyA

Not sure we should have a vote until there's a definite option. I'm open to suggestions...

Thanks John.
There are some very good varieties available, good sources include from Ed Dickin at Harper Adams and from Andy Forbes at Brockwell Bake for modern crosses and older varieties. And by older I mean landrace, heritage or indeed anything pre intensification. So, that would mean varieties prior to the accelerated breeding programs of the seventies onwards.
Supplementary question, John, will you be no longer using ammonium nitrate, or glyphosate if you go down the ‘continuous wheat’ route?

Thanks for all the prompts...
Diversity is the key (in answer to Steven and others queries) to continuous heritage wheat growing. You need an under-storey of clover and weeds (tick) as well as a landrace mix of wheats (missing). This way you don't get the fungal attacks allegedly, in much the same way as the mixed population of plants in a meadow all grow together healthily.
The ground is now quite wet, nicely so, but more rain forecast. Drilling would be several days off, if we wanted to get on with it. I think there's plenty of cash to do this if we want...will see if I can get hold of some landrace seed. Might need a lawyer: you aren't allowed to buy it, there's a strange rental agreement you have to get involved in...
I haven't managed to test the harvested grain yet, will report back when I do.
John

Dear Christine
John has been visiting Australia. He will reply I am sure.
Best TonyA

Hi @johncherry. Sorry for the late response. I am happy to experiment as you suggest but we probably need a vote on this which also will show levels of commitment from our membership. I realise you need to make planting decisions quickly and we also need to know if current funding allows for this. Also keen to know if you are going to test the grain - hoping for a better Hagberg number level than the Spelt last year.

This comment is in response to the information and questions of Abby Rose on the benefits of diverse seeds. I hope John has time to respond. Best TonyA

Tony Allan replying to the very interesting comments of Keesje on agro-forestry. I cannot get Loomio to let me respond on the thread on which the comments were made. It would be useful to hear about the experience of other members. It would also be useful to hear where John Cherry is on the appraoch. Best TonyA

Dear John
I agree with your proposal to sow the seed you have or acquire.

Best TonyA

Dear John
We are very interested in your report on the harvest.
We would be very pleased to hear your suggestions on what to sow next season.
We are very sorry about your problems with Loomio.
Best TonyA

john that sounds interesting..shall I put up a vote?

x Grahame

Thanks for the update @johncherry ! Brill - I too am intrigued by John Letts continuous wheat and think it could be a brilliant experiment for OurField. But I think at the core of that idea is diversity, my understanding of why it works and you don’t get increased disease pressures etc is because of the inherent diversity in the crop and therefore the field which means you don’t have to rotate to get diversity...what do you think? Is millers choice a single varietal or a mix of varietals? Could we add in some of johns heritage population ( or another heritage population) and sow them together?

This may be too late to contribute but I've been reading with interest work being done by Doug Christie on his farm in Fife with his multi cropping. I see that he has spoken at Groundswell so perhaps some of you know his work better than my stalking on google. I don't understand the practical side of harvest I have to admit (when multi cropping) but it seems to assist with the weed burden as well as available nitrogen if using peas/beans as well as improving soil carbon levels.

Very interested to hear about the lodging issue potentially due to too much fertility - I have had that issue on a much smaller scale with some of my perennial plants (particularly sedums) in a no-dig system. However the difference is that they aren't a hungry plant, nor will be harvested so won't be removing the nutrients from the soil. This may sound very naive but if looking after the soil is of utmost importance, wouldn't continuous cropping of one plant reduce the health of the soil beyond just its fertility?

Agroforestry sounds like a great idea and I understand the hesitation. We have planted a number of trees not fully understanding how much damage our sheep would do before and perhaps even when they are fully established due to the breed of sheep. This is even more pronounced with cattle as the neighbours cows have managed to annihilate quite a few saplings over the fence.

We are experimenting with planting quite densely in fenced off blocks without any plastic tubing or other protection. This summer they have done well as the grass has 'hidden' the saplings from the deer without seeming to prove a problem from competition and we managed to plant the trees far enough away from the fence to stop the domestic animals having a taste. However the winter will tell whether the rabbits, voles and deer stay away or not. If anyone else is in Scotland the Soil Association are running two agroforestry days next week on an arable farm in Fie and then on a livestock farm in Perthshire. They have also recently published a booklet on agroforestry. I am yet to open it.

Hi John,
John Letts’ work is interesting though I know some people have reservations about continual cropping. The crop rotation has multiple benefits beyond fertility build. Reducing disease burden and the ability to graze being among them. And indeed though taller wheats can help outcompete weeds they need to emerge early and keep vigour early on.
Good to discuss these things. How do you approach rotation at Weston? It might be that the ‘Letts’ approach would potentially suit a single field that is outside of a rotation?

My computer hates loomio..that took about an hour to write, now on laptop which seems a lot quicker.

What I wanted to suggest was a plan for next year. I've been chatting with John Letts a bit as I'm intrigued by his continuous no input heritage wheat trial. He has, so far successfully, grown his heritage landrace mix on the same field for six years, with no inputs. He likes minimal fertility so the wheat doesn't fall over, or 'lodge'. The wheat is taller than any weeds which are thus swamped and, because fertility is low, the weeds aren't a problem, in fact they probably help keep disease etc at bay, in a biodiverse sort of way. He says it has yielded an average of 3 tonnes a hectare every year. This doesn't sound much, but effectively outyields conventional organic, which can only grow wheat once every three or four years in each field.

This sounded like a brilliant experiment that the #ourfield collective might like to try. There would be no decisions to be made, you could just rejoice it being at the cutting edge of the most benign vision of the future of farming.

What does everyone think? We ought to plant it as soon as possible if we're going to go ahead. We've got a heap of Miller's Choice which we could use as seed...it may not be ideal as it's not exactly a landrace, but it should be ok if we drill early enough and thick enough (both things we didn't do last year).

Again, many apologies for the radio silence. We harvested the field in the lovely dry weather a week or two ago and we now have three little heaps of grain in the 'conference' barn at Lannock. It is hard to judge how much we have, but I'd say the YQ and Crusoe wheats both did approx 3tonnes/ha, giving us 16 tonnes of each to sell. The Millers Choice heap is a lot smaller, partly because we grew a smaller area and we destroyed a chunk of it pre-harvest. It also looked a bit thin all year

Another update: Tony Allan met John Cherry on Thursday 22 August 2019. John said that the rain in the middle of August has interrupted harvesting and it has also caused some drying costs. The combine has been working on the fields close to OurField and the heritage wheats and other wheat on the field should be harvested soon. The last days of the month should be fine. He is giving thought to marketing the grain.

Update from Tony Allan following his exchange with John.
Harvest is creeping along ok, in fact it's dried up nicely this pm and we've just got going again. It'll need a little bit of drying, but the forecast, which was bright, is now a bit rubbish for the week ahead, so we wanted to get some in whilst we can. The Ourfield wheat is waiting for a bit more sun before it'll go.

Saturday 17 August

Thanks for the update, John. That all sounds really great, apart from the area that failed (but it's good to understand why that happened). I really like the idea of agroforestry. We may need to consider the costs of set up and if we can afford it as a collective at the moment (may depend on what we can sell this year's crop for) but I agree it would a great example so show what can be done.

Thanks John. Like Wendy I am very encouraged and it is great news about a potential buyer - from last year's difficult selling process I know I am not the right person to make any decisions about how to sell and what the market price should be. So happy for those that know to steer that part.

Hi Christine
Thanks for the nudge. Weather is never good for farmers, but it hasn't been too bad at all this year. The wheats on ourfield look pretty good and will be ready to harvest soon (in the next two weeks). The weeds shouldn't make too many problems for us and all in all it has been a bit of a revelation in terms of how good things can be with no inputs. The one failure was the strip which had no glyphosate pre-drilling...the weed burden was too high for the wheat to get away. We've had to flail the crop off.

The rest of the heritage wheat looks fine, even the Crusoe at the bottom of the hill which was a bit yellow and sad looking in the spring, now looks like a semi-proper crop. The clover under-storey is doing it's work of smothering weeds and providing nitrogen and emotional support to the wheats towering above.

Many a slip twixt cup and lip, but so far so good. We even have a buyer who's showing interest in buying the lot, depending on post harvest testing. How much do you want for it?

As for next year, I'll come back soon with suggestions. I am happy to consider a bit of agro-forestry (which there was some talk of last year) despite all the hassles involved, not least because it's one of the few fields which is nicely aligned N/South and is close to Groundswell for delegates to look at, and this is something which UK agriculture needs to be thinking about if not actually doing. I had a snoop around Stephen Briggs's farm in the fens earlier this year (he's got rows of apple trees every 26m with 24m of cropping in between) and it was very inspiring.

John