Sandy Allison is waiting for wheat to dry out at Turnhouse Farm, Edinburgh, after 5mm more rain on Monday night (7 September).

“We only had one day’s combining last week, and are looking forward to the high pressure.”

He had 80ha (200 acres) of Consort, Viscount and Paragon wheat to cut, and 100ha (250 acres) of spring beans, which were not yet fit.

“The wheat is looking alright, but we’ve been cutting at very high moistures of 20-28% because we haven’t had three dry days in a row for the past four weeks.

“We’re having to dry everything, which is very expensive, but we have no option because it’s ready and we need to cut it,” he said.

“There is some evidence of sprouting, and we’re not alone in that.”

The Cordiale which Mr Allison had cut performed very well as a second wheat, yielding over 8.6t/ha (3.5t/acre) with a good Hagberg of 340.

Publican spring barley had also yielded well, at 7.6-7.9t/ha (3.1-3.2t/acre). “But we’re selling it as feed to avoid the risk of rejection.”

Although the farm had received less rain than last harvest, it had been relentless, every second day, he said. “The wheat just doesn’t have a chance to dry out.”

But ground conditions were better, and he had managed to drill 40ha (100 acres) of rape. “We didn’t get any in last year.”

Crop: Winter wheat
Variety: Cordiale
Yield: >8.6t/ha (3.5t/acre)

Crop: Spring barley
Variety: Publican
Yield: 7.6-7.9t/ha (3.1-3.2t/acre)