The harvesting of alternative crops

Tag: Green Peas

Harvesting of alternative crops can be hugely frustrating and time consuming in Irish weather conditions. Combinable peas and oilseed rape, in particular, can incur substantial losses if growers don't prepare for the challenge ahead.

Winter oilseed rape is usually harvested from the end of July to early August, with spring rape being harvested from late August to mid September.

Shedding losses due to pod shatter, which occurs when the pods burst open before entering the combine, is a major concern within a few weeks of harvest. This can occur as a result of the wind, after the crop has matured, or as a direct result of the action of the combine harvester. Losses can vary from 2-5pc in ideal conditions, and up to 50pc when crops are grown on exposed sites, when weather, before or during harvest, is exceptionally hot and dry, when diseases have caused premature ripening (e.g. severe Alternaria, stem canker or Sclerotinia), or when crops have lodged. Volunteer rape plants can cause problems in subsequent crops as, even at low losses, much more seed is being returned to the soil than was originally sown.

Three harvesting options are available for oilseed rape -- direct combining, desiccation and direct combining or swathing.