Rain has stopped combines in their tracks across parts of the country today (21 July), but others have dodged the showers to cut oilseed rape and winter barley.

In Cambridgeshire, Oliver Walston had cut two-thirds of his oilseed rape at Thriplow Farm, with yields slightly above his five-year average.

The 80ha (198 acres) of Excalibur was yielding 3.4t/ha (1.4t/acre), he said. “It is rather drier than I’d like to see at between 6% and 7% moisture.”

Jonathan Lloyd had finished combining winter barley at Thelveton Farms, Diss, Norfolk, and hoped to start on oilseed rape today.

The 73ha (180 acres) of Maris Otter yielded about average at 5.4-6.2t/ha (2.2-2.4t/acre), coming in at 12-13% moisture.

Stephen Whitby was busy combining oilseed rape for a neighbour, and hoped to move onto his own crop of Castille at Rowley Farm, Wexham, Slough, shortly.

So far the rapeseed was yielding 3-3.5t/ha (1.2-1.4t/acre), while Carat winter barley had come in at 6.2-7.9t/ha (2.5-3.2t/acre).

In Holbeach, Lincolnshire, Mark Tinsley expected to start combining oilseed rape this week, and said wheat was about two weeks away.

“There’s very little being cut in this area but that will soon change.”

Rain has stopped play at Tim Skinner’s Stoddards Farm, Beckley, Sussex.

“We cut our first field of oilseed rape yesterday, at 8.5% moisture,” he said. At 4.2t/ha (1.7t/acre), the 6ha (15 acres) of Excalibur had yielded slightly better than average.

Showery spells had also kept the combine under wraps at Colin Keevil’s farm in Cloford, Frome, Somerset.

So far he had cut 24ha (60 acres) of Pearl winter barley, which had yielded better than average at 8-8.4 (3.25-3.4t/acre).

Decent straw yields were also pleasing, having been baled straight behind the combine for £198/ha (£80/acre).