Farmers have been combining as much as possible today (15 July), ahead of forecast rains over the weekend.

In Essex, harvest was well underway at Sandon Lodge Farm, Chelmsford, where Richard Spackman had been combining oilseed rape and winter barley.

So far the Cassia barley had yielded 7.25t/ha (2.9t/acre), despite having grown on very hot, gravelly land.

Grandia, Dimension, Castille and Excalibur oilseed rape yields ranged from 1t/ha to 5t/ha (0.4-2t/acre), depending on the soil type.

Alan Cook had also been cutting oilseed rape at Windwhistle Farms, Romsey, Hampshire, and was pleased with yields so far.

“It’s been running very well – yields are much higher than average.” So far he had cut Grandia at 4.35t/ha (1.8t/acre), Astrid at 4.7t/ha (1.9t/ac) and Cabernet, which was somewhat lighter.

In Wiltshire, harvest was still about a week away at Ashton Farms, Trowbridge, and crops looked extremely variable.

Arable manager Martin Smart said he expected to combine Excalibur oilseed rape next week, with trial varieties about a week after that.

“I can’t wait to get the combine into the trial varieties – they look so good, I’m like a kid in a toyshop.”

Across the Channel, French wheat yields were not as bad as feared, with rainfall in June proving beneficial.

As a result, Strategie Grains had increased its estimate for EU-27 grain production by 6.6m tonnes, to 282.3m tonnes.
 
Oilseed rape yields in France and Germany were also better than expected, said Jonathan Lane at Gleadell Agriculture.

“But rain in southeast Europe and the Black Sea area is hindering harvest and could cut yield potential in these regions.”

Generally, grain yields in the Black Sea were higher than last year, despite damage from recent rain.

In Ukraine, the Ministry of Agriculture said 6.9m tonnes of grains had been harvested by 12 July, from 2.4m ha – 21% of the forecast area.