Charlie Stewart has almost finished harvest at Merton Estates, Kelso, Scotland, with just spring oilseed rape left to cut.

“Our yields were not particularly brilliant this year because the winter crops went into such poor conditions – although the spring crops were alright.”

Very few wheats yielded over 7.4t/ha (3t/acre), and second wheats averaged just 6.2t/ha (2.5t/acre), he said. “With the price being so depressed it’s not a happy story.”

However, all the Solstice went for milling, which was a bonus, he added.

Pearl winter barley made the grade for malting, as did the Decanter spring barley. Firth spring oats performed very well, yielding 6.8t/ha (2.75t/acre). “I’m going to grow more oats this year and reduce the amount of second wheats.”

Most farmers in the area had now finished harvest, about one week later than normal, said Mr Stewart. He was pleased to have cut most crops fairly dry.

“Almost everything has been harvested under 17% moisture, so we’ve had a big saving on drying costs.”

He was now lifting potatoes and drilling winter crops into superb conditions, he added.

Crop: Winter wheat
Yield: <7.4t/ha (3t/acre)

Crop: Spring barley
Variety: Decanter
Yield: 5.7t/ha (2.3t/acre)

Crop: Spring oats
Variety: Firth
Yield: 6.8t/ha (2.75t/acre)

Crop: Winter barley
Varieties: Pearl and Sequel
Yield: 6.8t/ha (2.75t/acre)