Diary

Brand new HOLMER Terra Dos sugar beet harvester started lifting the beet on 28 August. The yield at this stage is 35 t/ha but it is expected to rise towards the end of the harvest. Sugar factory laboratory analysis shows high sugar content as compared with the local average. The company hired AGRIFAC Big Six sugar beet harvester recently to increase lifting capacity.

Winter wheat harvest gets under way following a few days of wet weather.

Frequent rains continue to promote good growth.

Film crew spends week with OOO Heartland Farms in Penza.

The BBC arrive to visit Hartland Farms in Penza on the 23rd of August.

Interested in joining the success? OOO Heartland Farms wish to hear from you if you have an engineering background.

Cereals are being planted

Sugar beet planting

Spring has finally arrived, about a week later than normal, and land work is starting. Day time temperatures are now reaching 18C and we expect to be drilling prior to the end of April.

The 2000ha of winter sown wheat has survived the hard winter very well with only about 5% losses, much lower than the national average. Aerial application of nitrogen fertiliser started on the 19th of April and should complete at the weekend. (SEE PHOTO)

We have taken delivery of a 18.3 metre Horsh seeder being used along side the 2 existing 6 metre and 1 8 metre Vaderstad system drills this year and the 3 Kongskilde sugar beet drills.

2 additional self propelled sprayers have also been added t the fleet this year with one to be dedicated to sugar beet crop protection. (SEE PHOTO)

Cropping this year will be:

2,000ha Winter wheat

1,425ha Spring malting barley

1,280ha Spring wheat

1,075ha Sugar beet

75ha Sunflower seeds

114ha Soya trial


2,500ha of derelict land to be cultivated ready for autumn 2006 planting.