David Hoyles from Lincolnshire is busy lifting potatoes, having managed to reach the end of this year’s wheat harvest.

“It’s ironic, I must be the only farmer who needs rain,” he said. “But the ground has really dried up and we need the rain to bring the soil up with the potatoes to prevent bruising.” 

Currently, Mr Hoyles was harvesting Maris Piper at Monmouth Farm, Long Sutton. They were coming in at 22% dry matter, with yields at 39.5t/ha net, losing around 10% in waste due to growth cracks and greens.

He had also grown daffodils, daffodil bulbs, beetroot, mustard and 142ha of wheat this year, and the weather had clearly had a huge impact.

Invicta yielded 7.33t/ha, which was down by 39% on last year.

Santiago yielded 7.62t/ha, which was 44% down, while Oakley produced 6.9t/ha –  17% below last year.

“It’s been pretty poor all round,” said Mr Hoyles. “Quality was poor and we failed to meet one of our customer’s standards, which meant we were completely unable to supply them.”

Crop: Winter wheat
Variety: Invicta
Yield: 7.33t/ha

Crop: Winter wheat
Variety: Santiago
Yield: 7.62t/ha

Crop: Winter wheat
Variety: Oakley
Yield: 6.9t/ha