Keith Harris from Manor Farm in Gillingham, Dorset, has finished a very good oilseed rape harvest.

Fortis oilseed rape yielded 3.75t/ha which was up on last year’s average of 2.77t/ha.

This year he trialled Grizzly and Winner on his farm, and both yielded similarly, he said, but he has chosen to grow Grizzly next year. Mr Harris said: “It was noticeably different. Grizzly was shortest and easiest to harvest.”

He was pleased to have cut all the oilseed rape before the rain, and the crop all came in dry. “It’s been our best ever year.”

Mr Harris is planning on starting wheat harvest within a few days as the crop was all looking well. With the crop looking clean and still standing he added: “We could be in for a bumper harvest.”

• Crop/Variety: Oilseed rape – Fortis, Grizzy and Winner


• Area: 52.3ha


• Yield: Av 3.75t/ha, range 3.38 – 4t/ha


• Quality: N/A