Combining is going well despite some sticky conditions at Ed Lankfer’s Laurel Farm, Wereham, Norfolk, although quality results are very mixed.

“Winter barley was split between Cassia and Retriever, with Cassia performing well at 7.5t/ha and passing the grade on bushel weight,” he said.

However, the Retriever was likely to be a lot more variable.

“I loaded the first load, grown on light land, and you could tell in the trailer that bushel weights would be light as a feather,” said Mr Lankfer. “But the second load looked much better.”

Test results confirmed his fears, with the first load testing at 58.7kg/hl and the second one making the grade, with a yield of about 7.5t/ha.

Compass and Sesame rapeseed performed well, too, with an average yield of around 4t/ha.

“It was a beautiful sample, although we had trouble getting it off in wet conditions.”

With half an inch of rain predicted for today (15 August), Mr Lankfer hoped he wouldn’t be delayed for too long.

“Oats have done well so far, with a pleasing sample and a bushel weight of about 50kg/hl.

“But wheat doesn’t look as good, with blind sites and pink shrivelled grains – although we’ll not find out for sure until we cut it.”

A neighbouring crop, which had been predicted to yield 12.5t/ha in June, had only reached 8.75t/ha, so Mr Lankfer wasn’t too optimistic about his own.

“In June the crop looked awesome but it just hasn’t done well since then. No doubt ours will be similar.”

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Cassia and Retriever
Area: 40ha
Yield: 7.5t/ha

Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: Sesame, Compass
Area: 35ha
Yield: 4t/ha

Crop: Winter oats
Variety: Gerald
Area: 20ha
Yield: 7.5t/ha