Wheat is starting to sprout across the country, with many combines still under wraps due to the ongoing wet weather.
In Yorkshire, Derek Lamplough had not been able to get on combining for three weeks. “The worry is that the quality starts to go – but I don’t think our wheat will be ripe enough to sprout yet,” he said.
But further south wheat was starting to sprout at Wilfred Walters’ Scobbiscombe Farm, near Ivybridge, Devon.
“I cut 90 acres last week and it was just about acceptable – now everything has grown out and looks horrible. It is really desperate.”
In Essex Peter Fairs was 60% of the way through his wheat, with yields ranging from 7.4t/ha (3t/acre) to 9.9t/ha (4t/acre).
“I suspect the wheat is losing Hagberg now,” he said. “The Glasgow was starting to sprout when we cut it.”
Yields had been excellent at John Wilcox’s Batch Acre Hall, Stratford, Staffs, but he had cut nothing for over a week.
He was now trying to buy a second hand combine to help finish off the spring barley and remaining wheat.
“At the moment it’s alright, but if we get another week of this weather it will really start to suffer,” he said.
In Aberdeenshire, Nick Davidson was thankful to have escaped the worst of the weather.
Although rain had frustrated harvest, he had finished his oilseed rape and winter barley, and was on lifting potatoes for a neighbour today (21 August).
“We’re ready for drilling oilseed rape but the ground is so wet we won’t get on for a few days,” he said.
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