Drier weather has seen more combines out over the past few days, although many farmers are unlikely to start until the end of this week (w/e 25 July).

Barometer farmer Chris Moore has been cutting Carat winter barley in West Butterwick, Lincs, and is pleased with the yields so far. The 22ha (55 acres) has averaged almost 8.6t/ha (3.5t/acre), well above last year’s yield.

John Beslee started combining last night (21 July) in Kent, and is pleased with the Castille oilseed rape. “We usually average 2.7t/ha (1.1t/acre) – I think it will be better than that this year,” he said.

But in Dorset Nick Harding’s Flagon winter barley has produced some mixed results, yielding slightly below normal at about 7.5t/ha (3t/acre).

Jim Alston, one of FW’s Farmer Focus contributors, started combining 53ha (130 acres) of Maris Otter winter barley today near Norwich. “The yields look like they’re going to be reasonable, with low screenings,” he said.

And in Shropshire Sandy Walker expects to start harvest by the end of the week. “Both the rape and barley could come ready at the same time,” he said. “We should normally aim to finish the rape and barley by the end of July and we shouldn’t be far off that.”