James Stafford has been combining most of the week at Pickwick Lodge Farm, Corsham, Wiltshire, despite forecasts of frequent showers.

“We were meant to have a wet week, but we have cut every day until we got rained off last night. The wheat is over 20% today.”

So far he had finished combining oilseed rape and spring barley, and was about halfway through his wheat. “We’re getting on alright.”

Tipple spring barley yielded about average at 6.8t/ha (2.75t/acre), and 67kg/hl. “It looked really well.”

Oilseed rape was slightly below normal at 3.6t/ha (1.47t/acre), although yields ranged from 2.7t/ha (1.1t/acre) in Astrid to 4.7t/ha (1.9t/acre) in Eiffel.

“The Astrid was the worst by far – the Eiffel was the best, and the Cabernet more than compensated for the frost damage earlier in the year.” Oil content averaged 44%.

Mr Stafford had also cut 14ha (37 acres) of Robigus winter wheat. “It was a bit of a disaster at 6.2-6.8t/ha (2.5-2.75t/acre) – it never tillered.”

Alchemy was now ready to cut, and looked to have a nice sample, and would be followed by some Viscount.

“Our own combine keeps breaking down so we’ve had a range of demo combines in place – we have got a big John Deere at the moment so once we get going we should get on quite quickly.”

Crop: Winter wheat
Variety: Robigus
Area: 14ha (37 acres)
Yield: 6.2-6.8t/ha (2.5-2.75t/acre)

Crop: Spring barley
Variety: Tipple
Area: 47ha (115 acres)
Yield: 6.8t/ha (2.75t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: Astrid
Area: 15ha (36 acres)
Yield: 2.7t/ha (1.1t/acre)

Variety: Cabernet
Area: 16ha (40 acres)
Yield: 3.8t/ha (1.55t/acre)

Variety: Eiffel
Area: 14ha (34 acres)
Yield: 4.7t/ha (1.9t/acre)