John Moss had finished harvest at Howton Farm, Pillaton, Cornwall, leaving just 8ha (20 acres) of spring barley to cut for a client. “That’s 10 days off yet, which is a little frustrating,” he said.

Wheat yields were 1.2-2.5t/ha (0.5-1t/acre) down on average, at about 6.8t/ha (2.75t/acre). “Our winter barley yielded better than the wheat. It’s been a disappointing harvest to say the least, although the higher prices have taken the gloom off the situation.”

Spring barley cut on clients’ farms had been mediocre, with the early drilled crops doing much better than later drilled fields, which produced just 2.5-3.5t/ha (1-1.4t/acre) in places.

Crop: Winter wheat
Yield: 6.8t/ha (2.75t/acre)