Meurig Raymond finished combining spring beans at Trenewydd Fawr, Haverfordwest, Dyfed, on Saturday (18 September), rounding up a fair harvest.

“That’s the earliest we’ve finished for a number of years – and it’s been the easiest harvest for four years. We haven’t had the rainfall they’ve had further east.”

Yields were about 5% down across the board, he said. “And we dried most of the crop because we were combining ahead of the ripening period.”

First wheats Viscount, Oakley, Alchemy, Grafton and Robigus averaged 10.2t/ha (4.1t/acre), with Viscount and Oakley performing the best.

Tipple spring barley averaged 7t/ha (2.85t.acre). “So far it’s all up to the malting specification.”

Retriever, Saffron, Flagon and Sequel winter barley came in at 7.4t/ha (3t/acre), while Dimension, Flash, Excel, Excalibur and Cabernet oilseed rape averaged 4t/ha (1.6t/ha)

However, bucking the trend of lower yields were Fuego spring beans, which exceeded 6.2t/ha (2.5t/acre). “I just don’t know where it all came from – it didn’t look that good a crop.”

Straw yields were 15% down. “But all in all it’s not a bad picture – and values have gone the right way.”

Mr Raymond was now a third of the way through lifting 100ha (250 acres) of potatoes.

“Where we used ample irrigation we’ve got good yields and quality – but where we couldn’t get on so much, yields are down.”

Crop: Winter wheat
Variety: Viscount, Oakley, Alchemy, Grafton and Robigus
Area: 283ha (700 acres)
Yield: 10.2t/ha (4.1t/acre)

Crop: Spring barley
Variety: Tipple
Area: 223ha (550 acres)
Yield: 7t/ha (2.85t/acre)

Crop: Spring beans
Variety: Fuego
Area: 12ha (30 acres)
Yield: 6.2t/ha (2.5t/acre)

Crop: Winter barley
Varieties: Retriever, Sequel, Saffron, Flagon
Area: 164ha (405 acres)
Yield: 7.4t/ha (3t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Varieties: Dimension, Flash and Cabernet
Area: 120ha (300 acres)
Yield: 4.3t/ha (1.75t/acre)