Geoff Thomas is relieved to be in the harvest home straight at Pantycoch Farm, Letterston, Haverfordwest, after a frustrating couple of months.

“It’s been never-ending – I’ve had enough, but now it’s finally stopped raining we are coming to the end.”

With 20ha (50 acres) of wheat and 7ha (18 acres) of spring barley to cut, he hoped to be finished by the weekend.

“I’ve been quite amazed by the barley – it should look dreadful but it seems to have held up really well.

“Of course, there have been some losses, and the price is pathetic, but we’ve baled a lot of straw and had no trouble with it.”

The Quench and Westminster had averaged about 7.4t/ha (3t/acre). “I’m delighted with that – and it’s a smashing sample with a good bold grain.”

Gladiator and Duxford winter wheat had yielded reasonably well, at about 8.6t/ha (3.5t/acre) over the combine. “It has taken more harm that the spring barley.”

Following the torrential rain, Mr Thomas had had to leave parts of fields as they were too wet to cut. “It was running out of the gateways like streams, and there are an awful lot of ruts in the fields.

“A week ago things were looking pretty desperate, but most people are finishing up in the area now.”

Crop: Spring barley
Varieties: Westminster and Quench
Area: 21ha (52 acres)
Yield: 7.4t/ha (3t/acre)

Crop: Winter wheat
Varieties: Gladiator and Duxford
Yield: 8.6t/ha (3.5t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: Flash
Area: 4ha (10 acres)
Yield: 5.3t/ha (2.1t/acre)

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Carat
Area: 24ha (60 acres)
Yield: >7.4t/ha (3t/acre)