Andrew Craig finished his winter barley at Westwood Farm, near Telford, Shrops, on Saturday (26 July) and has just started on the oilseed rape today (28 July).

“The barley has come off exceptionally well,” he said. The 53ha (130 acres) of Carat and Saffron feed barley averaged 9.4t/ha (3.8t/acre) over the weighbridge. “We even had one field which hit 9.9t/ha (4t/acre) – I couldn’t believe it.”

He was now combining 134ha (330 acres) of Castille oilseed rape at 8-9% moisture before the forecast thunderstorms. “It looks a nice crop but it’s only just ready.”

The 364ha (900 acres) of Alchemy, Robigus, Einstein, Battalion and Humber winter wheat would be at least a fortnight away, he added.

Crop: Winter barley
Varieties: Carat and Saffron
Area: 53ha (130 acres)
Yield: 9.4t/ha (3.8t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: Castille
Area: 134ha (330 acres)