SOME GROWERS in the South have nearly finished barley harvest and are starting their oilseed rape.

On the whole most seem happy with the barley results, but are not particularly impressed with the rape.

“It‘s a good crop with loads of straw – I‘m quite pleased,” Staffs grower John Wilcox told FARMERS WEEKLY Harvest Highlights on Thursday (July 22).

“Bushel weights were 68kg/hl, which was a lot better than expected”.

In Cambs, Robert Podd‘s Pearl winter barley came in at roughly 7.41 t/ha (3 t/acre), which was expected and had a moisture content of 17%.

“The rain hasn‘t affected the quality of the crop at all” said Mr Podd.

Hants grower Tom Coleman has finished harvesting his 25ha (60 acre) barley crop in Winchester, Hampshire.

He said “it looks good – we‘re pretty happy with it.”

Nearby at Droxford, Stephan Horn reports his rape crop is standing well and is easy to cut, but he is not completely happy.

“I‘m very frustrated, even with new varieties we‘re stuck on yields- the cost of growing is increasing each year, which means that if yields don‘t increase then we‘re effectively going backwards”

Wheat prices are more of a concern for Cambs grower Stephan Ellerbeck.

“The prices have been much more volatile than we could ever have envisioned. It‘s made the market so difficult to understand,” he said.

Heavy showers are due to clear away to the east overnight, according to FWi Weather Services, leaving a dry but overcast Friday (July 23).