Combines are dodging showers to continue cutting winter barley and oilseed rape – with some spring barley and winter wheat also underway.

Winter barley yields in Norfolk were about average – and were likely to be the best of this year’s crops, reckoned Andrew Dewing of Dewing Grain.

“Winter barley has done well – although yields are just average, the samples are lovely and almost all malting varieties are going into the malting bin.”

Oilseed rape yields were below average, and Mr Dewing expected yield and quality problems in both spring barley and wheat due to the dry season.

In sharp contrast to that, harvest had already broken two records at JV Farming, Martinsdown, Dorset, with the earliest start in memory and the highest oilseed rape yields ever.

Harvest started on July 9, and a 107ha (264-acre) block of Catana oilseed rape yielded more than 5t/ha (2t/acre) for the first time.

In Hampshire, Daniel Crawford was waiting for oilseed rape to ripen at Neatham Farms, Alton.

So far he had cut 15ha (37 acres) of Cabernet, which had yielded 5.25t/ha (2.1t/acre), with 5ha (12 acres) of Expert averaging 5.38t/ha (2.2t/acre) over the combine.

James Forrest had finished combining winter barley at Mowness Hall, Little Stonham, Suffolk, and was now also into oilseed rape.

The Sequel winter barley, grown on light land, averaged 7.5t/ha (3t/acre), while the Cassia on heavy ground yielded 9t/ha (3.6t/acre) – both about average for the farm.

“Considering how dry it’s been we were really very pleased with that.”

Barley and oilseed rape yields were similar to last year at Robert Timmis’s Home Farm, Lilleshall, Shropshire.

Cassia winter barley yielded 7.9t/ha (3.2t/acre) and Cubic oilseed rape came in at 4.74t/ha (1.92t/acre).

Oats, wheat and spring barley on light land had suffered in the drought, but wheat on heavier ground looked well, he said.