Jim Alston, one of FW’s Farmer Focus contributors, started combining today (22 July) at Manor Farm, Calthorpe, Norwich.

He was cutting 53ha (130 acres) of Maris Otter winter barley, which was looking pretty good. “The yields look like they’re going to be reasonable, with low screenings,” he said. Some people had been combining malting barley on the Norfolk coast, and early indications of Nitrogen content were good.

Harvest timing was about average, said Mr Alston. “We would generally start around the 20th of July.” After the Maris Otter he would be moving onto a nearby farm to cut Pearl winter barley next week.

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Maris Otter
Area: 53ha (130 acres)