John Jeffrey has still got spring beans to combine at Kersknowe Farm, Kelso, Roxburghshire, but has finished cereal harvest.

“It’s been an absolute curate’s egg – the winter barley was very poor at 6.4t/ha (2.6t/acre) – the six-row Pelican was awful.

“But the Pearl all made malting, which just about made up for it.”

Marcant and Catana oilseed rape, however, performed very well, averaging 4t/ha (1.6t/acre).

“The wheat was just above average, at 8.6t/ha (3.5t/acre) on my light land,” said Mr Jeffrey.

“Incredibly, the second half came in at 16% moisture, which saved on drying costs.”

But spring crops were a complete disaster, he said. “The oats looked well but didn’t manage 5t/ha (2t/acre). They’re a bonny bold sample though.”

The spring beans were not yet fit, but didn’t look exciting. “They’re very short. It’s been a very short growing season for them – they dried off early and I’m not holding my breath.”

Crop: Spring oats
Variety: Firth
Yield: <5t/ha (2t/acre)

Crop: Winter wheat
Yield: 8.6t/ha (3.5t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Varieties: Marcant and Catana
Yield: 4tha (1.6t/acre)

Crop: Winter barley
Varieties: Pearl and Pelican
Yield: 6.4t/ha (2.6t/acre)