Carl Tuer is busy combining winter wheat at Rock Farms, Alnwick, Northumberland, and is delighted with what has turned out to be one of the best harvests ever.

“It’s just been fantastic,” he said. “Yields are exceptional and it’s been a completely different year for us.”

The 283ha of Viscount and Cassius first wheat averaged between 11.5t and 12t/ha. Second wheat Beluga yielded between 8.5t and 10t/ha.

“It’s been coming off at 14.5% moisture, which I’ve never known to happen,” added Mr Tuer.

Both first and second wheat reached a bushel weight of 75-77kg/hl straight off the combine. The protein was also very good, reaching biscuit making quality.

 Publican spring barley yielded 8t/ha, which also exceeded previous years.

“The only trouble we’ve had is a bit of slug damage, but the crops were drilled early last year in good conditions and it’s really paid off. The sun shone at the right time of year for us.”

Mr Tuer still had 65ha of wheat to cut before moving onto the 300ha of oilseed rape.
 
 “We replaced some of the winter rape with spring rape, and it’s the most phenomenal looking crop I’ve seen here,” he said. “We’ll finish the wheat on Friday (6 September) and plan to start combining the rape on Saturday.

“As an average across the board on the farm, it could be our biggest year ever.”

Crop: Winter wheat
Variety: Viscount and Cassius
Area: 283ha
Yield: 11.5-12t/ha

Crop: Winter wheat
Variety: Beluga
Area: 142ha
Yield: 8.5-10t/ha

Crop: Spring barley
Variety: Publican
Yield: 8t/ha