Potato harvest is underway, but farmers are still finishing up cereal crops across the country.

In Herefordshire, Philip Gorringe cut 200t of wheat yesterday (9 September) at Lower Blakemere Farm, Blakemere, but still had wheat and peas to combine.

“We had a very good day yesterday – the majority of it was under 16% moisture, and although everyone was thinking it would be disastrous, the quality of the seed is fine.”

Russell Fraser finished cereal harvest on 11 August at Tiln Farms, Retford, Nottinghamshire, and was now about to start lifting potatoes and carrots.

“It was a strange harvest – we started the earliest ever, on 8 July, and I was expecting everything to be burnt off.

“But the Suzuka winter barley did over 7.4t/ha (3t/acre), which was a very pleasant surprise.”

Michael Manners had finished wheat harvest at Conicliffe Grange, Staindrop, Darlington, and had made a start on lifting potatoes.

“We had very little rain until this week – it was just enough to stop us combining but not enough to do the potatoes any good – it was very frustrating.”

In Northumberland, Carl Tuer was combining the last strip of winter wheat at Rock Farms, Alnwick, Northumberland, today.

“It’s been a very good harvest – we are absolutely delighted with yields.” First wheat averaged almost 11.1t/ha (4.5t/acre), with some Viscount producing over 12.3t/ha (5t/acre).

Further north, Jim Cargill had finished cereal harvest at Coldstream Farm, Fettercairn, Aberdeenshire, but was disappointed with yields.

“We finished on Monday and it has rained ever since then, so we finished just in time. But yields weren’t very exciting.”

He was now lifting potatoes, but said there was still wheat and barley to cut in the area.