Andrew Craig made a start on his oilseed rape at Westwood Farm, Much Wenlock, Shropshire, yesterday (6 August), but was at a standstill with combine problems today.

He had 73ha (180 acres) of Castille, Excalibur and Cabernet ready to cut, but another 40ha (100 acres) was still 10 days away.

“Hopefully we’ll get the first lot cleared with two or three good days.”

Mr Craig had finished his 73ha (180 acres) of winter barley, which yielded better on the lighter land following the wet autumn. “It’s all had to go through the drier.”

The Suzuka had averaged 7.8t/ha (3.2t/acre), while the Saffron yielded 6.9-7.2t/ha (2.8-2.9t/acre).

Farmers in the area had only really made a start on harvest this week, he said.

“Not much has been done, but everything is changing by the hour now the sun’s come out. It will be all systems go next week, if the weather stays dry.”

Although his first wheats looked reasonable, the second wheats were very patchy. “They’re not going to break any records.”

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Suzuka
Yield: 7.8t/ha (3.2t/acre)

Variety: Saffron
Yield: 6.9-7.2t/ha (2.8-2.9t/acre)