Wheat is underway at David Reynolds’ Geddington Farms, Kettering, Northamptonshire, where harvest started 10 days later than normal.

“The weather has been an absolute swine – it is so frustrating,” he said.

Mr Reynolds finished the 1012ha (2500 acres) of oilseed rape, grown under the Barn Farms Partnership, on Monday (10 August), and it had rained ever since.

Considering the poor conditions last autumn, the Excalibur and Castille had yielded better than expected, he said.

With very variable yields, of up to 5t/ha (2t/acre), it averaged just over 3.7t/ha (1.5t/acre).

Following two wet summers, the partnership had invested in two Claas 600 combines, enabling them to cut more quickly between the showers.

With the farms down to 50% wheat and 50% rape, Mr Reynolds now had 1012ha (2500 acres) of wheat to cut.

“So far the Cordiale looks average – the hot spell earlier in the year stopped growth and the wheat hasn’t filled out as well as one would have hoped.”

However, quality still looked good, and farmers were about halfway through harvest in the area, he added.

Crop: Oilseed rape
Varieties: Excalibur and Castille
Area: 1012ha (2500 acres)
Yield: >3.7t/ha (1.5t/acre)