Harvest is almost finished in the Brandsby area of Yorkshire, according to contractor Keith Snowball.

He had just a couple of acres left to finish at his own High Farm, and 80ha (200 acres) of contract combining to do. “We’ll be finished by tomorrow night (1 September).”

With little faith in the forecast he cut a lot on Friday at 17% moisture, but was now combining spring barley at below 15%.

“It’s lovely quality, but is yielding below average on sandy land at 4.9t/ha (2t/acre).”

Solstice and Gallant milling wheat had slightly low protein, but would fetch a premium, he said.

Solstice yielded 9.1-9.9t/ha (3.7-4t/acre), with Gallant doing 8.9-9.1t/ha (3.6-3.7t/acre). “In a way it has slightly disappointed.”

Later cut Oakley was exceeding the 10t/ha (4t/acre) mark, while winter beans averaged about 4.9t/ha (2t/acre). “Two crops were not desiccated – we just went straight in and cut them at 16-17% moisture.”

Oilseed rape had been more variable, however. “One field only did 2.5t/ha (1t/acre) – the sandy part did abysmally.”

A superb looking field of Catana averaged 3.7t/ha (1.5t/acre), while a patchy field of Kalif next door did 4.3t/ha (1.75t/acre).

“Up until the middle of last week it was what I call a bachelor’s harvest – you get it while you can. But it’s been stressful without doing too much damage.”

However, farmers with smaller capacity combines, or who had been unlucky with the weather, had more to do, and further north there was still quite a bit to cut, he added.

Crop: Winter wheat
Variety: Solstice
Yield: 9.1-9.9t/ha (3.7-4t/acre)

Variety: Gallant
Yield: 8.9-9.1t/ha (3.6-3.7t/acre)

Variety: Oakley
Yield: >10t/ha (4t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: Catana
Yield: 3.7t/ha (1.5t/acre)

Variety: Kalif
Yield: 4.3t/ha (1.75t/acre)