Showers are frustrating many attempts at harvesting, and yields, for many, are proving disappointing.
In Cornwall, John Moss only started cutting winter barley at Howton Farm, Pillaton, Saltash, on Monday (26 July). “We have never started so late.
“This time last year we had finished the winter barley and most of the oilseed rape.”
Now winter barley, oilseed rape, wheat and crimped wheat were all ready in the same week. “I have never known that happen before.”
John Beslee’s combine was rolling through winter wheat at Hook Green Farm, Southfleet, Kent, and yields were disappointing.
“It is not very good at all – we had a really dry time after a very cold winter, and our crops are going to be a lot lighter this year.”
In Nottinghamshire, Chris Cockayne was also combining winter wheat at Top Brackendale Farm, Cropwell Butler, with oilseed rape not yet ready.
“We tried some spring barley, but that wasn’t ripe either. But the Gallant wheat is not a good crop – we are very disappointed in the yield.”
However, quality was excellent, with protein at over 13% and bushelweights at 77-78kg/hl.
Spring barley yields were below average at Little Farms, Saffron Waldon, Essex, having been affected by the lack of rain.
So far Carl Juhl had only cut some Concerto, at about 7.2t/ha (2.9t/acre), and Publican, at around 6.7t/ha (2.7t/acre).
“Our oilseed rape is not ready yet – I think we may even be into the wheat before the rape at the moment, which is very unusual,” he said.
In Berkshire, Innes McEwan had cut the first of his oilseed rape at Jealott's Hill Farm, Bracknell, Berkshire, and reckoned it was the best crop of the lot.
“I don’t expect to be bettering any yield averages across the farm this year, given the poor growing season.”
However, in Scotland, harvest was going very smoothly at James Grant-Suttie’s Balgone Farms, North Berwick, East Lothian.
“Unusually for us, we’re amongst the early starters this year – there are not many combines going around us,” he said.
The Cassata winter barley was yielding pretty well at a comfortable 8.4t/ha (3.4t/acre) – leaving 32ha (80 acres) to finish off before moving into oilseed rape.
“The spring barley and wheat will probably come in mid-August, as usual.”
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