Somerset farmer Jeremy Walker said harvest had been “frustrating so far” due to recent showers.

“We have to wait a day for the crops to dry off and so we’re combining late into the evening as we can’t start early. But at least moisture is all below 15%.”

Alchemy and Gladiator yielded 9.4 – 10t/ha, which he said was pretty good for his light land. “The yields are surprising considering we thought it had all shrivelled up.”

Bushel weights were “very good” at 79 -80kg/hl, and both samples were “nice and clean”. “Alchemy had a nice looking sample for the seed contract, but Gladiator had the edge on yields due to the ground.”

Sixty hectares of Expert oilseed rape yielded an average 3.1t/ha, but it was better than last year. He said the light ground meant yields were not always high.

“Some places were very difficult to combine as the crop was extra dry and we desiccated it with Round-up which made it worse.”

Twenty hectares of linseed was not yet ready, and spring beans were ready to be cut, which would “wrap up harvest”.

“We’ve got lovely straw. So far we’ve had a reasonably cheap, straight-forward harvest.”

• Crop: Winter wheat
• Variety: Alchemy and Gladiator
• Area: 100ha
• Yield: 9.4 – 10t/ha
• Quality: Bushel weight 79 – 80kg/hl, moisture below 15%

• Crop: Oilseed rape
• Variety: Expert
• Area: 60ha
• Yield: 3.1t/ha