Farmers have been busy harvesting today (July 21), however FWi still managed to catch some time with a few and indications are that yields are average to good in the South and East.

Nick Brown from Wiltshire Grain Co-op received 250t of Pearl winter barley which was “better than average” at 1.7% nitrogen.

Similar results were seen in Hampshire where Jonathan Arnold’s Fanfare was yielding “well” and the nitrogen was “not a problem”. Pearl produced an average yield of 6.25 to 6.9t/ha, which was “as expected” and Flagon was producing better yields.

Pearl winter barley yielded 7.5t/ha in East Sussex which was “as expected”, despite being lower than last year, said Nick Matthews.

Oilseed rape yielded an “average” 3.75%, but Mr Matthews expects this figure to rise.

Tim Whitehead’s Pearl in Hertfordshire only yielded 7.5t/ha. He said: “We grew feed barley last year so this was to be expected.”

However he was “very happy” with the Fortis oilseed rape which yielded “significantly better than last year” at 3.5t/ha.

In Norfolk, 48ha of Pearl yielded 8.5t/ha, which Graham Bunn said was “probably 10% up on last year”. He was also “very pleased” with nitrogen levels of 1.66% and 2.5% screenings.