Daily rain meant Ian Green was still waiting to make a start on his winter wheat at Corskie Farm, Morayshire. “It’s been unbelievable – we haven’t had two dry days together. In a normal season we would be well into the spring barley and have made a start on the wheat.”

He cut a few acres of Maresi spring barley yesterday (August 29) but at 24.6% moisture didn’t get too far. “We’ve only cut 61ha (150 acres) of spring barley so far, and it’s all been flat.”

The spring barley had averaged 6.2t/ha (2.5t/acre), he said. “Quality doesn’t seem too bad – there is a bit of pre-germination and Fusarium but I expected it to be worse.”

Mr Green had fitted his combine with dual tyres to travel on the soaked ground, with 273ha (675 acres) of Oxbridge, Decanter and Cocktail spring barley to cut, as well as 92ha (230 acres) of winter wheat.

“Everything is ready but we just can’t get the weather to get going.”

Crop: Spring barley
Area: 61ha (150 acres)
Variety: Maresi
Yield: 6.2t/ha (2.5t/acre)