Mark McFerran has finished combining at Battletown Farm, Newtonards, County Down, but harvest is still very late in the area.

“We only had 30ha of Cassia winter barley, and it took 12 days to get it cut and baled in the broken weather we’ve had,” he said.

Yields were better than expected at 7.2t/ha at an average of 21% moisture.

“We’re pleased enough with that, because we’ve head of some very poor yields due to the lack of sunshine.

“The grain just didn’t fill out the way it should, and straw yields were a bit down, too.”

Most of the winter barley in the area was now cut, albeit 10 to 14 days later than usual, but spring barley was extremely late to ripen, said Mr McFerran.

“We’re just pleased to have got ours cut and off the field – now we can concentrate on next year’s crop and hope the weather is kinder to us.”

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Cassia
Area: 30ha
Yield: 7.2t/ha @ 21% moisture