Jonathan Holland expects to make a start on his Excalibur and Catana oilseed rape near Hungerford, Berks, this weekend (26/27 July).

He started spraying off the 385ha (950 acres) of rape a week ago, and said the Catana was about four days behind the Excalibur. “We had quite a late attack of cleavers which is a bit of a shame, but apart from that the crop looks good.”

With no winter barley this year, he would be moving into the 466ha (1150 acres) of Solstice and Alchemy winter wheat after finishing the rape. “I reckon we’re certainly five days behind.”

The Solstice had more disease than Mr Holland would like, and the Alchemy was still very green, he added. “As long as it’s a smooth rape harvest I reckon we’ve got a bit of a gap before the wheat.”

Crop: Oilseed rape

Varieties: Excalibur and Catana

Area: 385ha (950 acres)

Crop: Winter wheat

Varieties: Solstice and Alchemy

Area: 466ha (1150 acres)