Reports from across the country today (31 July) indicate harvesting work is well on its way again across the UK with the welcome better weather.

Although progress is behind schedule and some growers were reporting lower yields, and in places difficult conditions underfoot, growers were happy about better crop prices.

Carl Driver of Bury St. Edmunds was pleased with progress, despite being slightly behind last year. He was currently harvesting Xi19 winter wheat. He had finished 100ha of Flagon winter barley, cut at 16-18% moisture content, which yielded 7t/ha. It averaged 1.65% nitrogen.
 
 “It’s going well, and the better prices will make up for the widespread lower yields.”

Bill Harbour of Faversham had his work cut out at Gosmere Farm, after cutting the first 10ha of his 31ha Solstice winter wheat yesterday. He expected to combine more today

“It’s all happening,” he said.

Robert Ramsay from near Arbroath in Scotland was getting ready to combine oilseed rape again this afternoon after trying to combine 45ha of Ontario this morning, but stopping because of high moistures.

He said “Thank God for two things; one for living in the north and two for the prices, which are holding up for poorer yields this year.”

Sandy Walker of Ercall Park, High Ercall, Telford was lifting 14ha (35 acres) of potatoes when FWi called. He was surprised to find them “coming out of the ground nicely”.

“One week could make a big difference and prices are good, which helps a bit,” he said.

Grower Charlie Watson-Smyth of Padstow was about to combine Deben winter wheat when FWi’s Harvest highlights rang. He was expecting yields to be low because of the lack of sunshine.

“We’re behind with everything, but we always catch up in the end,” he said.

Catherine Thompson of Holme on Spalding Moor, York had finished the majority of 30.8ha (77 acres) Castille oilseed rape and was getting ready to start on 12- 16ha (30-40 acres) of Saffron winter barley.

 “As long as the weather is clear from now on little will be lost,” she said

* If you’ve got a harvest story then call our dedicated harvest reporter David Kemp on 020 8652 4073. You can also get involved on the new FWiSpace forums where you can chat directly with other farmers and share the high and lows of what is shaping up to be a challenging summer.

You can also share your harvest pictures by sending them to david.kemp@rbi.co.uk who will make sure they appear on our dedicated Harvest Highlights 2007 Picture Gallery (www.fwi.co.uk/Community/photos/harvesthighlights)

If you prefer, we can set you up with your own gallery where you can upload pictures at any time to share them with other farmers.

We are hoping to print a selection of the best harvest pictures submitted each week in Farmers Weekly magazine. Please be aware that for use in the magazine we will need pictures to be taken using the highest quality setting on your camera.