Here are some photos of the straw we use for ridging being stripped of its grain and combed so all the butt ends (bottom ends of the straw) are facing the same way. Any waste is also baled up. This process is carried on throughout the year on dry days so the farmer is able to supply us 12 months of the year. It is a noisy dusty job and a four man operation. The Reed Comber machine is from the 1950's and the straw variety is Marris Widgeon.
The straw for the 2011 harvest is shown ready for cutting and is of a good length. Thatching straw is grown for its length even though the grain yield will be only half compared with straw which is combined.
