Combines are out in force today across most of the country, with yields proving extremely variable.

In Co. Armagh, John Best was making a start on his oats, having finished oilseed rape yesterday.

He was hoping for a dry weekend, as he planned to take part in a record-breaking attempt of combining a 57ha (140-acre) field with 120 combines.

Geoff Thomas had also finished oilseed rape and winter barley at Pantycoch Farm, Haverfordwest, and was thrilled with yields all round.

The Flash oilseed rape yielded 5.3t/ha (2.1t/acre) at 12-15% moisture, while the Carat winter barley did well over 7.4t/ha (3t/acre).

In Hampshire, Tim Sykes was just making a start on winter wheat today, after finishing spring barley with pleasing yields of 6.2t/ha (2.5t/acre).

Oilseed rape had yielded 20% below average, having shed seed after being sprayed off for too long in the wet weather.

Wheat was also underway at David Reynolds’ Geddington Farms, Kettering, Northamptonshire, where harvest started 10 days later than normal.

He finished 1012ha (2500 acres) of oilseed rape on Monday, and said yields were better than expected at just over 3.7t/ha (1.5t/acre).

In Kent, Clive Apps was contract combining spring barley today, and said yields were a bit disappointing.

Winter wheat had been pleasing, averaging 9.9t/ha (4t/acre), but it was prices that were a major blow. “They’re below the cost of production.”

Further north, in Norfolk, drought in May had really knocked yields, said Bob Clabon of Rookery Farm, North Walsham.

Both winter wheat and winter barley had yielded below average, while spring barley had done slightly better, at 6.9-7.2t/ha (2.8-2.9t/acre).