The combine started rolling on Monday (13 July) at Ben Whitworth’s farm in Wix, Essex, where he has been cutting swathed oilseed rape.

“It’s still quite early days but we’re quite pleased with it, considering some of the establishment problems we had,” he said. The combine was reading a yield of 3.6t/ha (1.5t/acre) on the 40ha (99 acres) cut this week, leaving 35ha (86 acres) to do.

With no barley this year, Mr Whitworth hoped to have a break before starting on the 180ha (445 acres) of wheat. “Some people have been having a nibble at the barley around here, and a few were into the rape before us.”

Crop: Oilseed rape
Area: 40ha (99 acres)
Yield: 3.6t/ha (1.5t/acre)

Crop: Winter wheat
Area: 180ha (445 acres)