Brett Vale Farming Diary - March 2026
How things have changed in just a month!
Oilseed rape is now in full bloom, and blackthorn is flowering in the hedgerows, which is always a welcome sign of the first true days of spring.
We managed to plough the beet land that was lifted back in February. It turned over surprisingly well, but it dried out too much at the start of March to allow us to plant barley, so we had to patiently waiting for some rain on those fields. Elsewhere, though, the dry conditions have been a real benefit, and we’ve been making the most of the opportunity to push on with the workload.
All winter wheat has now received around two-thirds of its total nitrogen. As I write at the end of the month, crops are also receiving their first fungicide application. The cold nights have slowed growth somewhat, but some disease is still present. With most of the chemistry available being protective rather than curative, this application is an important insurance policy. Passing through with the sprayer also gives us the chance to apply micronutrients that crops may not be able to access sufficiently from the soil.
We’ve now managed to drill most of the spring barley in good conditions. It was great to get the new drill out of the yard and see it in action—it performed very well. The split hopper system allowed us to place fertiliser alongside the seed, saving a full day’s work for two men and two machines, which is a significant step forward.
This is also the time of year when we begin work again on areas within our environmental schemes. This involves topping and cultivating them, ready for spraying off and re-establishing later on.
With less than four weeks to go until the London Marathon on the 26th April, training has been a challenge to fit around a busy time on the farm. That said, I took part in the Colchester Half Marathon at the start of the month, which proved to be a great warm-up for the main event.
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Last Saturday, I persuaded a friend to join me for a grueling 33km run. We experienced just about every type of weather, but the wind was particularly brutal. We finished in Bildeston, where we rewarded ourselves with a well-earned pint of Mauldons at The Crown - very much needed after that effort!
If you’re able to, please consider donating to my chosen cause. The Kyaninga Child Development Centre is a fantastic organisation, and the engineering behind their bamboo wheelchairs—designed to cope with such tough conditions—is truly remarkable.
https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/oliver-pratt
Very many thanks. When I see you again, I hope I'm not too sore!
Oliver Pratt, March 2026
Photo Credit: Oliver Pratt