PROFILE HH Craske & Son
Attention to detail brings benefits on Suffolk farm
A long term strategy to beat blackgrass is also boosting yields for HH Craske and Son – and helping the environment.
A
Suffolk farming family says a focus on drain- age has helped im- prove yields and soil
health while being good for the environment and helping to get on top of blackgrass. Brothers Michael and James Craske farm some 720ha of ara- ble crops and grassland as HH Craske & Son at Peyton Hall, Stone Street, near Hadleigh, Ip- swich. Their interest in drainage stems from their father John, who improved the drainage on the farm during the 1950s and 1960s. “All the field drains are marked
where they enter the ditch and we make sure they are well-main- tained,” explains Michael. “We know the importance of good drainage for keeping blackgrass at bay and we put a lot of effort
in to try to stop it encroaching.” Cultivation helps too although
the brothers say they are not wed- ded to any particular system. “We try to look after the soil as best we can and keep it in good con- dition,” says Michael. “Improving its structure is the most impor- tant thing because it means bet- ter yields.” To aid blackgrass control, ploughing is only undertaken when necessary. Rotations are longer rather than shorter and challenging arable land adjacent to watercourses has been revert- ed to 6m grassland margins for protection of the water and to aid habitats.
Rotation This year’s cropping is 335ha of winter wheat, with 53ha of win- ter barley, 80ha of winter beans and 154ha of winter oilseed rape. Unusually this year there is no spring cropping – the benefit of keeping fields relatively black- grass-free – although spring crops do usually feature. Wheat yields in the region of 10.5-11t/ha. Varieties include 94ha of Siskin for milling, with soft wheats Motown and Sun- dance making up the remainder of the wheat acreage. Both were selected for their resistance to or- ange blossom midge, which can be a problem.
Michael Craske says looking after field drainage has helped to keep on top of blackgrass
Bazooka winter barley has proved effective in smothering any blackgrass and for an early harvest. Straw is baled by con- tractor – the only operation that is contracted out – to give an ear- ly entry to rape, which are all con- ventional varieties. Winter beans yield in the region of 5t/ha. Rape is established using a
12R59B
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■ CEREALS ■ PULSES ■ OILSEEDS
■ GAMECOVER ■ GRASSES ■ FERTILISER Conventional & Organic Seed
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Please call Andrew Cooper or Dave Thacker on 01728 684180 for any help or advice
Moat Farm, Moat Park, Earl Soham, Woodbridge IP13 7SR • 01728 684180 JULY 2018 • ANGLIA FARMER 51
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Craske & Son
Proud to be working with H H
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