Bruce Udale is halfway through his spring barley at Eyton House Farm, Telford, Shropshire, and expects to be combining later after some rain this morning.

“We’re trying to finish the spring barley before we start the wheat – it’s all just about standing up.”

So far he had cut 49ha (120 acres) of Tipple spring barley, which was producing a good sample and averaging about 6.8t/ha (2.75t/acre).

It was the first time he had grown spring barley for 25-30 years, following the wet autumn last year, and he still had 45ha (110 acres) to cut.

Mr Udale had finished his Dalguise winter oats, which yielded well below last year, at almost 7.4t/ha (3t/acre).

The Castille, Lioness, Excalibur and Pioneer oilseed rape came in at 4t/ha (1.6t/acre), although the Pioneer proved so short it became inundated with weeds, he said.

Rapeseed yields in the region were likely to be below average, due to late establishment in the autumn, and wheat had also suffered, he added.

“There are a lot of fields with bare patches – and the dry April took yield off the lighter soils. On average, I think yields will be down in Shropshire.”

Mr Udale had cut 32ha (80 acres) of Alchemy, which was patchy and had chitted, leaving another 453ha (1120 acres) of winter wheat to cut.

“We just need some good weather from now on – we need to shift some wheat this week to get some rape in the ground.”

Harvest was about a third complete in the area, he added.

Crop: Spring barley
Variety: Tipple
Area: 49ha (120 acres)
Yield: 6.8/ha (2.75t/acre)

Crop: Winter oats
Variety: Dalguise
Area: 65ha (160 acres)
Yield: <7.4t/ha (3t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Varieties: Castille, Lioness, Excalibur and Pioneer
Area: 120ha (300 acres)
Yield: 4t/ha (1.6t/acre)