Winter barley is almost complete in Cornwall, where John Moss has been cutting his own and contract harvesting for neighbouring farmers near Saltash.

“Our Saffron has done very well.” It averaged 6.9t/ha (2.8t/acre) over 141ha (348 acres) with good straw yields to boot, he said. “The Retriever has been an absolute disaster with low bushelweights.” The 8ha (20 acres) yielded just 4.9-6.2t/ha (2-2.5t/acre).

Oilseed rape was also mostly done, with Mr Moss’s 65ha (160 acres) of Castille yielding a pleasing 3.7t/ha (1.5t/acre). “It’s been good to harvest, coming in at between 6.8% and 11% moisture.”

The 80ha (200 acres) of Mascani oats were ripe, and the naked oats were nearly ready, he said. “One customer had some Solstice winter wheat which we were hoping to start at the weekend (2 August) if the weather had stayed dry.”

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Saffron
Area: 141ha (348 acres)
Yield: 6.9t/ha (2.8t/acre)

Variety: Retriever
Area: 8ha (20 acres)
Yield: 5.5t/ha (2.2t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: Castille
Area: 65ha (160 acres
Yield: 3.7t/ha (1.5t/acre)