Cutting the costs out of harvesting operations

摘要

Filling up the diesel tank is an expensive business these days. The price of red diesel has risen almost 20p/litre in the past year to nudge 70p/litre and shows little sign of falling any time soon. The pressure this puts on farm costs is no more evident than during the busy harvest and autumn cultivations period. But the Pelham Farming Company joint venture, which offers a combining, cultivations and contracting service for the two parent businesses and other local farms over 2,100ha (5,200 acres),has limited the impact of cost hikes with a determined focus on efficiency. Now in its 12th season, the company (see box), has consist-endy reduced most costs on a per hectare basis, despite rising prices for key inputs, such as fuel and machinery.