Combining is back underway across much of the UK, with many farmers now over halfway through harvest.

In Hampshire, Adrian Dixon was well ahead of schedule at Northbrook Farm, Micheldever, with around 65% of the crops now in the barn.

“We’re much further ahead than in other years,” he said. “There’s still plenty to do but time’s been on our side.”

The hybrid oilseed rape varieties outperformed conventional varieties, with DK Excellium averaging 4.4t/ha, while Camelot and Quartz only managing to average 3.4t/ha.

Further North, Phil Dowson of High House Farm, Richmond, was pleased with high barley yields, although quality was poor.

The 6ha of Volume winter barley reached a promising 8.6t/ha, but bushel weights were down at around 60kg/hl.

“On the plus side, it’s taken very little drying, coming off between 14% and 16% moisture,” he said. 

See also: All the news, videos and harvest resources on our Harvest Highlights page.

In contrast, David Butler was delighted with Propino spring barley at East Wick Farm, Wootton Rivers, Wiltshire.

“It’s been the top crop of the year for me,” he said. “The yield was fantastic at 7.9t/ha and nitrogen was 1.4%,” he said.

“We’re just over halfway through this year’s harvest and we’ve never been in such a good position.”

However, in Scotland, Alec Webster was still waiting to begin this year’s spring barley harvest at Lower Reiss Farm, Caithness.

“We put in 30ha of Waggon,” he said. “We use our own straw here, so it’s an important part to us and it’s all looking good so far.”

Further south in Lincolnshire, Alan Hind was busy combining wheat at Elm Tree Farm, Little Bytham, with Santiago yields between 9.88t and 12.35t/ha.

“It’s been an excellent year for the wheat,” he said. “Conditions have been fantastic for us. If there’s no wheat this year there never will be.”