Wet weather is hampering harvest at Haddon Farm, Bridgwater, Somerset, where Jeremy Walker wants to combine oilseed rape.

“We’ve got 200 acres (80ha) to cut, and some has been desiccated for a couple of weeks so I want to get into it.

“But it’s drizzling today and looks like a frustrating week of weather ahead, so we won’t be cutting it for a day or two.”

Mr Walker had already cut a couple of fields of Saffron winter barley at 14.5% moisture. “The bushelweight was pretty good, at 69k/hl; that’s quite weighty stuff, so we pleased about that.”

Yields were reasonable, too, with both fields grown after wheat. One yielded 8.6t/ha (3.5t/acre), with the other just below 7.4t/ha (3t/acre).

“There’s a fair bit of straw; I baled the first field and it was very dry – but it rained just before I finished the second field so that’s waiting to be done.”

After the oilseed rape Mr Walker had Cassia winter barley to cut. “That’s not fit yet.” Then would come winter wheat – all sown after a break crop.

“I’m a bit concerned about whether the rain saved it or not – I don’t think they’ll be record breaking yields, but they should be alright.”

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Saffron
Yield: 7.4-8.6t/ha (3-3.5t/acre)