Send us your views on harvest progress/prospects: Karen.Willmer@rbi.co.uk

BARLEY GROWERS in northern areas are reporting a generally good start to harvest, with many suggesting yields are above average.

For Northern Ireland Farmers Weekly barometer farmer, Clive Weir, recent sunshine has followed plenty of rain earlier in the season, which means yields are up 1.2t/ha on average.

Yorkshire farmer, Nick Baker, said that yields of his Pearl winter barley were also slightly up on normal and the crop had provided a “considerable amount of straw”.

Mr Weir agreed that straw yields had proved very good this season. “We’re inundated with straw which is making good money – £9 for a four by four round bale.”

But dry early summer weather has taken its toll on farms in the north, as well as those further south, as East Lothian farmer, Alistair Aitken found.

He has harvested 20ha of Scylla winter barley so far, but the lack of water over the past three weeks means it provided a thin sample. Yields still managed 7.4t/ha (3t/acre), he noted.

Kent farmer Neil Strand decided to tackle the driest south-facing fields of Einstein second wheat first, as other varieties are not quite ready. Yields averaged 7.4t/ha (3t/acre), but he hopes things will improve.

“It’s the first year we’ve grown second wheat. I’m confident the remainder will be better.”

See FWi’s Harvest Highlights section for the regional reports in full and more from around the country, updated every day.