WHAT A difference a year makes is the message from Bucks farmer Mike Lewton, who is grabbing what crops he can between heavy downpours.

“Yields aren‘t the problem, it‘s getting crops cut in the first place that‘s the problem. We started on Aug 5 and it has been stop-start ever since.”

So far 30ha (74 acres) of Xi19 had done “fantastically well,” achieving an average yield of 11.75t/ha. Protein was 13.9% and hagberg close to 388.

Harvest is normally finished in 20 days. Mr Lewton fears “it will be a lot longer this year”.

“Harvest prospects looked exceptionally good two weeks ago – things have been deteriorating ever since.”

The combine was last going on Sunday (Aug 22), when 250t was taken off 65 acres.

“Moisture contents started off at 21%, but dropped quickly to around 16% when we finished at midnight.”

A start has been made on autumn drilling, with 60ha (150 acres) of oilseed rape already in the ground and starting to emerge.

It‘s completely the opposite to last year, when the main concern was exceptionally dry soil, notes Mr Lewton.

That led to the entire crop being replaced with beans, linseed and spring barley, all of which are still waiting to be cut. 

“I only hope that the weather will change soon.”