OILSEED RAPE and barley yields continue to prove variable as progress continues and growers look to make a start on wheats.

For many, 2004 has already proved to be a difficult year for rape, however tricky weather conditions throughout the year have hampered some barley crops.

“It‘s a pig of a year for the oilseed rape – it‘s been difficult,” Northants grower Ray Dalton told FARMERS WEEKLY Harvest Highlights  on Friday (July 30).

“Round here we have different microclimates where higher exposed areas are fine but down in the valleys gets the brunt of the storm.”

Mr Dalton added that despite difficulties with slow rape growth, good soil moisture retention meant that yields this year have actually been slightly better than his five year average.

By comparison, Norfolk farmer Christopher Papwork told Farmers Weekly Harvest Highlights that “the oilseed rape has been a success story ” this year.

Mr Papwork has harvested just over 40 ha (100 acres) of Winner at 4.94 t/ha (2 t/acre), but he thinks the average yield will be more like 4.32 t/ha (1.75 t/acre) with 8% moisture.

In the Scottish Borders Stuart Fuller-Shapcott Haka winter barley has yielded slightly below 7.41 t/ha (3 t/acre), which he described as “a little disappointing but it looked a bit dodgy all year.”

He was more impressed with the 12 ha (30 acres) of Pearl which yielded slightly above 7.41 t/ha (3 t/acre) and had a 1.51% nitrogen content.

Meanwhile, Cornwall‘s Charlie Watson-Smyth describes his Antonia winter barley yields as “infinitely variable “.

He has another 33ha (80 acres) to do before he can start on his Claire wheat crop which is ready to be combined.

This year is Herefordshire grower Mark Green‘s first year growing Hendon oats and describes crops as “looking good “.

To date 8.09 ha (20 acres) have been cut, but recent showers and heavy dews are causing delays as moisture contents became too high.

Early cloud should give way to warm sunny spells across much of the UK according to FWi Weather Services.

There may be a chance of showers, particularly near the coast.