Steve Heard: Confident of more crop for less cost this harvest

Having now collated all our new field mapping - generated using our own GPS measurements - I am now slashing an average of 5 per cent from our field cropped areas. Not only does this reduce chemical spend, it also re-calculates our yield per field, adding nearly half a tonne per hectare to our wheat yields. The only downside is that my actual rent per acre has seemingly increased.

Higher wheat prices also brings the potential for a greater financial return on fertiliser applications, but, with limits on the total nitrogen I am allowed to apply per field, I must think carefully which field size I am going to record for inspection.

The wet, cold days of the winter months on an arable farm are often divided between workshop and office. Ideas generated with spanner in hand are later evaluated on the computer.

Having spent several weeks overhauling both combines to a highest standard, I’m only now considering a replacement.

Machinery expenses are always difficult to evaluate, but with depreciation historically the biggest percentage of operating costs, getting the right deals is critical.

Combine prices have inflated at alarming rates over recent years and, with the current farming economy, I see little reason for that to change. Two years ago I looked to buy a combine and today it’s still worth similar money, even having consumed an additional pair of harvests. On this basis I can see no reason to delay changing one of our combines a year ahead of plan, assuming the right bargain can be found.

But for now the dealers will have to wait, I’m away with my family to the Alps, playing in the white stuff.

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