Yields disappoint at Presteigne

David Price is about a third of the way through harvest at Presteigne, Powys, but is yet to start on oats or winter wheat.

“We have just had shower after shower – and the forecast has been an absolute joke.”

Saffron winter barley was poor, yielding just 6.4t/ha (2.6t/acre). “But it was a third successive cereal so we weren’t expecting much.”

Castille oilseed rape was also mediocre, at 3.2t/ha (1.3t/acre). “It just didn’t get away and there was a lot of secondary growth. It died off early and was very patchy.”

About 14ha (35 acres) of winter oats were now ready to cut, said Mr Price. “And the 48ha (120 acres) of wheat is following on nicely.

“The Oakley and Diego wheats look well, they caught the rain just in time for grain fill.”

Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: Castille
Yield: 3.2t/ha (1.3t/acre)

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Saffron
Yield: 6.4t/ha (2.6t/acre)