Harvest Arrives Early at the Claydon Farm
Harvest 2026 arrived earlier than expected on the farm in Suffolk, reflecting what many growers have experienced across the eastern counties of the UK.
After a mild winter, a dry spring and prolonged periods of warm weather through June and July, crops moved rapidly towards maturity. Oilseed rape was ready well ahead of the usual timetable, allowing the combine into the field earlier than we would normally expect.
Conditions at harvest were dry, and crops came off cleanly, but the early start also highlighted the importance of acting quickly once the combine had passed. With valuable moisture still sitting beneath the soil surface, there was a limited window to manage residues, encourage volunteers and prepare the ground for the next crop before the hot weather dried the surface out.
On the Claydon family farm, the straw harrow followed closely behind the combine, spreading chopped straw and chaff evenly while lightly disturbing the top few millimetres of soil. This helped create the conditions needed for oilseed rape volunteers and weed seeds to germinate, while leaving most of the residue on the surface to protect the soil.
Harvest may be at the end of one crop, but it is also the beginning of the next. The work carried out immediately behind the combine can have a major influence on moisture conservation, soil biology, weed control and the success of the following crop.
For growers using the Opti-Till® system, this is where the straw harrow comes into its own.
Why Timing is Everything
one of the biggest mistakes growers can make is leaving non-baled stubbles untouched for several days after harvest, particularly in a dry season like the one seen this year. Immediately after combining, there is still valuable moisture trapped within the soil profile. That moisture provides ideal conditions for oilseed rape volunteers, grass weeds and soil biology to become active. However, after several days of hot sunshine, the soil surface can quickly dry out, reducing the opportunity for an effective flush of volunteers and slowing biological activity.
Running a straw harrow directly behind the combine makes the moist of that remaining moisture. Rather than waiting for rainfall, growers can encourage volunteers and weeds to germinate while conditions are still favourable, creating an effective stale seedbed before drilling the next crop.
The aim isn’t deep cultivation. Instead, the straw harrow gently scratches the soil surface, without disturbing the soil profile, spreading chopped straw and chaff evenly and creating a shallow tilth where seeds can germinate quickly. Building a ‘Suit of Armour’ for the soil, residue management is about far more than simply dealing with straw. Every pass with the combine leaves behind valuable organic material. Instead of burying it through intensive cultivation, the objective is to spread that residue evenly across the field, creating what we often describe as a natural “suit of armour” for the soil. That protective layer of straw and chaff shields the soil surface from both heavy rainfall and intense sunshine. During storms, it cushions the impact of raindrops, reducing the risk of surface capping, erosion and run-off while allowing water to infiltrate more effectively. During periods of hot weather, it acts like a mulch, reducing evaporation and helping to conserve precious moisture for longer periods. The benefits extend well beyond moisture retention. A protected soil surface provides a more stable environment for earthworms, fungi and beneficial soil microbes, allowing biological processes to continue even during prolonged dry spells.
As residues gradually decompose, nutrients are recycled back into the soil and organic matter levels are maintained, helping improve soil structure over the long term. The Claydon Straw Harrow is designed to achieve exactly this balance. Its aggressive tines lightly work only the top few millimetres of soil while carrying a small amount of straw. That small amount of residue movement is actually desirable, as it mixes chopped straw and chaff into the surface where it comes into close contact with moisture and soil biology, accelerating decomposition. Meanwhile, the majority of the residue remains on the surface, protecting the soil like armour from erosion, the weather and the environment around it whilst natural processes do the rest.
Turning volunteers into an Advantage Following oilseed rape harvest, volunteer plants can emerge in huge numbers if conditions are right. Rather than seeing these volunteers as a nuisance, they should be viewed as an opportunity. By encouraging a rapid and even flush immediately after harvest, volunteers can be controlled before drilling, reducing competition in the following crop and helping to minimise the green bridge for pests and diseases. The same principle applies to grass weeds. Encouraging germination while soil temperatures remain high allows stale seedbeds to work as intended, reducing weed pressure before autumn establishment. Small adjustments make a big difference, correct straw harrow setup is equally important. The machine should carry a small amount of straw through the tines. Seeing a little residue moving across the machine is a good indication that the tines are working aggressively enough to create the shallow tilth needed for weed germination while lightly mixing residues into the surface. If too much straw begins to build up, however, performance will suffer.
Crop conditions can change throughout the day as temperatures rise or straw moisture varies, so regular adjustments ensure the machine continues to work at its best. The objective is always the same: produce a consistent shallow finish while leaving an even protective layer of residue across the field. Looking ahead at Claydon, we believe successful crop establishment begins the moment the combine leaves the field. Straw harrowing isn’t about moving large amounts of soil – it’s about making the most of available moisture, encouraging the volunteers to emerge, managing residues effectively and protecting the soil beneath.
By creating a natural ‘suit of armour’ from the crop residues already present, growers can conserve moisture, support soil biology and lay the foundations for successful establishment of the next crop. In a season where timing has been everything, acting quickly after harvest could prove to be one of the most valuable decisions this year.