Tim Lock is making good progress with harvest at Houghton Farm, Arundel, Sussex, having cut oilseed rape and winter barley so far.

“We’ve done the rapeseed on one farm and barley on another, so we’re getting on well,” he said.

However, the Alegria rapeseed had yielded a disappointing 3t/ha, having just been loaded off the farm. “It looked better than that.”

The Cassia winter barley always looked good, and had yielded a pleasing 8.6t/ha, added Mr Lock.

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“We’re combining more winter barley today (16 July) on another farm with heavy land, and that isn’t as good.”

Farmers hadn’t cut a huge amount of rape or barley in the area, and wheat was still a long way off, he said.

“It’s turning fast in the hot weather, but although we have cut wheat in July we probably won’t be this year, which is a good thing.”

Oats would be ready before that, and looked reasonably promising, said Mr Lock. “But they need to be, with prices where they are.”