Roger Moore finished harvest on Sunday (August 26) at Manor Farm, Stapleford, Wiltshire – slightly ahead of a normal year.

The Splendor oilseed rape yielded just under 3.7t/ha (1.5t/acre) and sold at a £45/t premium as cooking oil for McDonalds.

Maris Otter winter barley also made a premium, coming in with malting quality at 5.6-6.2t/ha (2.25-2.5t/acre).

The 283ha (700 acres) of Solstice and Alchemy wheat averaged 8.6-9.9t/ha (3.5-4t/acre), and the Hendon naked oats were also pleasing, said Mr Moore.

But the Cooper peas were disappointing at less than 4.9t/ha (2t/acre). “I think it’s probably time to move onto a newer, higher yielding variety.”

Although the 162ha (400 acres) of Optic spring barley brackled and lost a lot of heads, it yielded just under 7.4t/ha (3t/acre) and sold to a malting home. The 49ha (120 acres) of Westminster made just over 7.4t/ha (3t/acre).

“We’re now ploughing ready to plant our winter rape,” said Mr Moore. “We’ve been offered £210/t for harvest movement so we’ll sell a part of it now.”

Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: Splendor
Yield: 3.7t/ha (1.5t/acre)

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Maris Otter
Yield: 5.6-6.2t/ha (2.25-2.5t/acre)

Crop: Winter wheat
Varieties: Alchemy and Solstice
Yield: 8.6-9.9t/ha (3.5-4t/acre)

Crop: Spring barley
Varieties: Optic and Westminster
Yield: 7.4t/ha (3t/acre)

Crop: Peas
Variety: Cooper
Yield: < 4.9t/ha (2t/acre)