Poll: How early do you expect to start harvest?

June’s heatwave has brought one of the earliest starts to harvest on a British farm in 40 years.

The 303ha Bisterne Estate in Ringwood, Hampshire, started harvesting winter barley on 28 June – two weeks earlier than normal.

It is the second consecutive year Farmers Weekly has started its harvest reporting in June.

See also: Harvest 2018 kicks off but drought spells bad news for yields

Flamingo oilseed rape came in at 8% moisture for H&F Farms in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire on 2 July © Tim Scrivener

On Monday (2 July), H&F Farms, based in Glinton, Peterborough, Cambridgshire, started harvesting Flamingo oilseed rape at 8% moisture. 

But following a cold, wet March, the dry spring means many growers are facing average to below average yields.