Harvest should be underway at Sandy Walker’s Ercall Park Farm, Telford, Shrops, by the end of this week (w/e 25 July).

“Both the rape and barley could come ready at the same time,” he said. “There’s a bit of barley being cut around, and our crop is looking alright.” He expected to make a start on the 162ha (400 acres) of late-drilled Carat and Saffron or similar area of Castille and Lioness oilseed rape by the end of the week.

“We should normally aim to finish the rape and barley by the end of July and we shouldn’t be far off that,” he said. The wheat was still two to three weeks away.

Crop: Winter barley

Varieties: Carat and Saffron

Area: 162ha (400 acres)

Crop: Oilseed rape

Varieties: Castille and Lioness

Area: 162ha (400 acres)