Martin Howlett is pleased to have almost finished harvest in Cornwall, but in true 2007 backwards style, now needs to make a start on the haymaking.

“Overall yields seem to be about 0.5t/acre (1.2t/ha) below normal which is disappointing,” he said. The six-row Sequel winter barley at Deer Park Farm, Callington, yielded “reasonably well for this land” at 4.7t/ha (1.9t/acre), while the Saffron winter barley came in at just 4.3t/ha (1.75t/acre).

However, moisture contents were not too bad at 14.7-15.9%.

Millennium winter oats cut eight days ago were pleasing at 5.3t/ha (2.2t/acre), although much of the crop went flat and sprouted secondary tillers, resulting in a mixed sample, said Mr Howlett.

“And the spring beans are beginning to go over now so it will be a week or 10 days before we’re into them.”

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Sequel
Yield: 4.7t/ha (1.9t/acre)

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Saffron
Yield: 4.3t/ha (1.75t/acre)

Crop: Winter oats
Variety: Millennium
Yield: 5.3t/ha (2.2t/acre)