A reasonably dry day across parts of the country has seen combines make good progress through winter barley and oilseed rape today (23 July).

In Suffolk, Carl Driver was harvesting Flagon winter barley at Brittons Farm, with yields ranging from 6-8t/ha (2.4-3.2t/acre) and nitrogen at 1.4-1.6%.

He expected to start Ovation oilseed rape early next week, and be into the winter wheat by the end of the week.

Despite some early showers, Clive Apps was combining oilseed rape at Boxted Lodge Farm, Romney, Kent, at about 12% moisture.

“Generally, the yields seem reasonable – they are better than we’ve had for several years.”

Oilseed rape was also performing better than expected at Ben Atkinson’s Grange Farm, Rippingdale, Lincolnshire.

The 80ha (200 acres) of Castille had yielded just over 3.7t/ha (1.5t/acre) so far, but Mr Atkinson still had 730ha (1800 acres) of rape to do. “We’re just grabbing it while we can.”

But rapeseed had been mixed at Peter Wombwell’s Rectory Farm, Ickleton, Essex, with yields ranging from 2.7t/ha to 4.5t/ha (1.1-1.8t/acre).

He expected to finish the last 18ha (45 acres) of rape today and then make a start on 49ha (120 acres) of Prophet peas.

In Surrey, Giles Porter was waiting for a couple of dry days before getting into his winter barley.

The crops were fit and ready to combine, but he wanted a spell of dry weather to enable him to bale the straw quickly.

He expected to start on his oilseed rape by the middle of next week.