BARLEY HARVEST is underway in Scotland, with growers reporting an above average crop.

But the oilseed rape crop is continuing to provide trouble and worries to farmers across the country.

“I‘ve never cut barley with such big yields in my life,” Russell Black from Fife told FARMERS WEEKLY Harvest Highlights on Monday (July 26).

With moisture at 14%, he has not even had to fire up the dryer, he said from his combine seat.

“The Colossus is hitting the magic 10t/ha and the Sequel isn‘t far behind with a slightly better sample.”

But James Mills had a thunder and hail storm causing £20,000 worth of damage to 45ha (110 acres) of Winner and Recital oilseed rape on his farm near Winwick, Northants on Thursday.

“From a distance it looked like it had been snowing – the fields were completely white.”

Joss Stratton‘s rape crop came in at a 3.3 t/ha (1.34 t/acre) yield which is down on the five year average of 3.7 t/ha (1.5 t/acre) on his farm near Warminster, Wilts.

He said “it wasn‘t easy to combine”, mainly due to the crop being laid after the heavy storms that the area has received in recent weeks.

In Oxfordshire William Emmett‘s rape is so far yielding between 3.21 – 3.34 t/ha (26-27 cwt) and moisture content between 8-9%.

“Considering how poor some of it looked in the winter it‘s quite a pleasing yield.”
 
But Phil Strout from Launceston, Cornwall hasn‘t had any trouble at all.

“We had no problems with establishment – the canopy is very thick – it looks excellent.”

While Roger Middleditch‘s Pearl barley, off very sandy land in Norfolk, is yielding well at just under 7.4 t/ha (3 t/acre).

Scotland may have some showers, according to FWi Weather Services, but the rest of the UK should remain dry.