Combines were rolling again in Norfolk this afternoon [27 July]. Simon Dann of Pound Farm, Tuddenham had just completed his first hectare of ES Astrid of the day, when Harvest Highlights spoke to him.

He had a further 25ha to cut and was optimistic it would be finished by next Tuesday. But quality was looking below average though.

He had finished Carat winter barley, likely to be sold for low grade malt. “It went alright,” he said, yielding 7.5 t/ha.

Mr Dann also had wheat, grass seed, and beans to harvest, although they were at least three weeks away. Progress was three weeks behind last year and he thought the lack of sunshine would definitely affect yields.

The wet weather had left him feeling stressed, and despite the prospect of a few dry days, forecasts for next week looked bleak, he said. “All the showers make work difficult.”

Crop harvested
• Crop: Winter Barley
• Varieties: Carat
• Yield: 7.5t/ha
• Use: Low grade malt

Crop being harvested
• Crop: Oilseed rape
• Area total: 30ha
• Varieties: ES Astrid
• Area cut: 4ha