Martin Boulden is about to make a start in winter wheat at Court Lodge, Aldington, Kent, having finished the winter barley and oilseed rape.

“We’ve been very lucky with the weather down here – we did 263ha of oilseed rape in six and a half days, and 45ha of winter barley in a day and a half.”

The Dimension, Compass, Alienor and PR46W21 rape averaged about 3.7t/ha, with the W21 topping the yield table.

Saffron winter barley yielded better than last year at 8.2t/ha, and had already been moved with no quality problems.

“We’ve cut a few Mascani winter oats, which were also better than last year, at 7.4t/ha,” said Mr Boulden.

“We should make a start on either the Claire or Cordiale winter wheat this afternoon (7 August).”

However, the wheat looked to be a mixed bag, he added. “It’s some and some – the older varieties seems to have fared better than the modern varieties with the disease pressure.”

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Saffron
Area: 45ha
Yield: 8.2t/ha

Crop: Oilseed rape
Varieties: Dimension, Compass, Alienor and PR46W21
Area: 263ha
Yield: 3.7t/ha

Crop: Winter oats
Variety: Mascani
Yield: 7.4t/ha