Writing this article poolside on a family holiday on the Costa Blanca, looking out over the Mediterranean, offers a far more pleasant view than the one I usually have of the maps on the office wall.

With temperatures topping at 35C, it’s hot, but not that much hotter than it was when we left Scotland. 

See also: Yields down but quality firm in unexpected wheat harvest

About the author

Neil MacLeod

Neil MacLeod manages 1,600ha of mixed soils on the east coast of Angus, Scotland. The majority of the land is in arable production with diversified enterprises consisting of soft fruit, sitka spruce, environmental stewardship, and renewable energy.

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Unsurprisingly, having had a great summer at home, I do find it slightly strange to be jumping on a plane seeking yet more sun. However, it does somewhat help even out the traditional farmer’s tan.

Winter barley was sprayed off on the 10 July, a full week earlier than normal, and the men are extremely happy that I have departed, knowing well what my patience is like as harvest approaches. 

Aside from the usual pre-harvest tasks, preparations and last-minute holidays to fit in, we still have the small matter of a new grain store to finish, with concrete to pour, wiring to be done, and a conveyor to install.

Luckily, we don’t need the new store until wheat harvest commences. However, based on how the crops are looking, that could be the third week of August for us.

The final job ticked off the list before my holiday was seed orders for this autumn’s drilling campaign. To ensure an August start to wheat drilling, I always purchase over-yeared seed.

However, supplies have been tight this year with my preferred variety (Zealum) unavailable.

With the thought of dressing home-saved seed in the middle of harvest not something I am willing to entertain, I have instead ordered new season Zealum. I only hope that it arrives on time.

My go-to late drilling variety of choice, Skyscraper, has been dropped this year. I have grown it for several years and have never known a variety with so much late-season vigour.

However, keeping it clean has become difficult and expensive and there are better varieties out there to consider.

Elsewhere, I will stick with Aurelia for rapeseed. It is a fantastic variety that consistently outperforms other northern varieties in our benchmarking group.

I’ve selected Caravelle winter barley again for yield and vigour and Penrose winter oat seed, bred by Senova, which is the preferred variety for Quaker Oats.