Robust rotation vital in tough times: making the most of opportunities is the mantra for Cereals 2009 host farmer Tim Whitehead, as Charles Abel found when he visited the Velcourt-managed farm.(CEREALS 2009 PREVIEW)

Squeezing more out of a robust rotation is the key to coping with tough economic conditions, says Vine Farm's Velcourt farm manager Tim Whitehead. And the arrival of sugar beet, min-tilled rape and stricter attention to spray windows help, too.

Vine Farm's aim is to maximise first wheat, with a good spread for harvest, so the farm can cope with one large combine and a contractor. That keeps overheads under control.

The focus then shifts to delivering on-spec to meet fixed-price contracts or fixed premiums, including Hereward for Warburtons. About a fifth of the wheat is Group 1 milling and consistently makes spec to command the farm's best gross margin.

But the whole rotation must perform. Where possible, peas are grown for human consumption or seed. But increasingly unreliable beans have been replaced with a quota for 3164t of, hopefully, more consistent sugar beet.

The crop has done well in its first two years, yielding 69t/ha and 68t/ ha from late September/early October lifting by Bartlow Estates for delivery to Bury factory. First wheats follow after subsoiling and packing within 72 hours.

"We've seen no impact on establishment, even in last year's wet autumn. Beet does tend to keep the ground quite dry in early autumn," Mr Whitehead notes.

Beet drilling is by contractor, leaving nutrition and spraying to Vine Farm. With good weed control paramount, acquiring extra spraying capacity was the main investment in adding beet to the rotation.