Oilseed rape harvest proved frustrating for Pat Grant of North Willingham, who was going to try next week to combine winter wheat.

Mr Grant completed 12.5ha oilseed rape last Thursday on his farm near Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. Yields of below 3.75t/ha (1.5t/acre) were disappointing but his main frustration was that land was wet. That had made combining hard work, even though moistures were below 9%.

He had also began 32ha (80 acres) of Gladiator winter wheat on Saturday [4 August], but it was not yet ripe and still moist. He thought the crop needed another week’s ripening and then three days work for harvest.

“If moisture falls below 15% then we’ll be able to do some, but it’s not quite ready anyway – I’ll be patient,” he said.

• Crop: Oilseed rape
o Area: 12.5ha
o Yield: <3.75 t/ha
o Moisture: <9%