Winter wheat yields are 0.8t/ha below the five-year mean, according to HGCA trial results, with treated yields averaging 9.63t/ha so far.

Well-established feed varieties had performed well, with Santiago yielding 108% of the control, with Diego at 104%.

Group three variety Torch matched its average treated yield at 103%, but its untreated yield fell to just 58% due to a yellow rust breakdown.

In the milling sector, Crusoe had yielded well, at 101%, with its untreated yield also holding up well at 114% of the control.

Gallant, Cordiale and Solstice outperformed their five-year averages, at 105%, 101%, and 99%, respectively.

Preliminary quality results showed that bushel weights were 8% below the three-year average, and among the lowest on record at 71.9kg/hl.

Samples ranged from 54kg to 80kg/hl, although milling varieties held up better than feed crops, said senior HGCA analyst Charlotte Garbutt.

Hagberg Falling Numbers were a touch lower than normal, at 267 seconds, but protein contents were on the high side, at 12.7%.

“However, with only 40% of GB wheat harvested, the estimates are focussed on South-East and Eastern regions, where drier weather has allowed progress,” she said.

“The survey is also biased towards earlier harvested bread milling wheat so figures can be expected to change when more group three and four varieties have been harvested.”

Winter barley specific weights were estimated to be 4% below normal, at 64.4kg/hl, but within a range of 45kg to 70kg/hl.

Screening levels were also poor, with 3.7% passing through a 2.25mm sieve and 88.6% retained over a 2.5mm sieve.

Nitrogen contents averaged 1.68%, lower than both last year (1.89%) and the three-year average (1.78%).