Spring barley has been disappointing for Tim Morris in Cirencester, Gloucestershire.

He said 90ha of Cocktail yielded 6t/ha with marginal screenings and high nitrogen levels of 1.9%. He said this was mainly due to seasonal variations, but also the crop did not recover from herbicide damage.

Mr Morris is suffering heavy deductions due to the poor quality, receiving less than £70/tonne on an £80/tonne contract. “This is not acceptable at this yield.” Next year he will not grow spring barley unless he is offered a contract of over £80/tonne.

He said it has been a very easy harvest except for rain at the end of July. He said this rain meant it had been a “touchy time” for oilseed rape, but has had a good run since. He finished cutting wheat on August 15.

Sixty hectares of wheat had not yielded as high as expected at 8 – 9t/ha. Claire yielded 9t/ha, and he said the quality was good which allowed him to gain a useful premium. “This was a high spot of harvest.”

Kahuna peas had averaged 4t/ha and were of a good quality. He said although the yield was not brilliant, it was possibly their best quality crop, and is looking to possibly grow them again next year.

Mr Morris said this time last year they were desperate as there was so much rain, but they “battled on” and finished in September.

• Crop/Variety: Cocktail spring barley


• Area: 90ha


• Yield: 6t/ha


• Quality: Marginal screenings, Nitrogen 1.9%

• Crop/Variety: Winter wheat – Robigus, Istabraq, Nijinsky, Claire


• Area: 160ha


• Yield: 8 – 9t/ha


• Quality: N/A

• Crop/Variety: Kahuna peas


• Area: 10ha


• Yield: 4t/ha


• Quality: N/A