Paul Hartley - Poplar Farm, Lottsbridge, Three Holes

 

Paul Hartley from Poplar Farm near Downham Market decided to grow Dimension this year. His  agronomist Chris Secker recommended the variety. The farm consists of around 1,000 acres and Paul is the fourth generation to be farming on the land. Frank Hartley  his great grandfather started the business.  The farm generally grows rape in a 1 in 5 rotation which usually consists of wheat, rape, wheat and  potatoes or onions.

Paul has decided to use Dimension for all his rape production on the farm growing around 85 acres which is made up of two large fields. The crop was drilled around 25 ^th August into sandy loam soil which was very dry due to lack of rain. The soil was first subsoiled, disked, power harrowed, drilled and then rolled after drilling. Since drilling the crop has been sprayed with a post emergence herbicide, spread with a course of slug pellets, as well as being sprayed for volunteers. Since drilling the weather has been generally mild with patches of heavy rain helping the crop get going. The crop has suffered mildly from attack from both swans and pigeons.

Paul decided to start growing hybrids hoping to receive greater returns from fewer inputs than conventional varieties.