Troy Stuart only has linseed left to combine at Clyst St Mary, Exeter, Devon, after a frustrating harvest.

“We’ve done about 40ha (100 acres) of linseed so far – on a customer’s farm it yielded 1.2t/ha (0.5t/acre) but it did better on the home farm, at 2.2t/ha (0.9t/acre).”

Quench spring barley was disappointing, yielding less than 5t/ha (2t/acre). 

But wheat had done well, considering the farm’s light land, with Alchemy yielding 9.4t/ha (3.8t/acre).

“We pushed on a bit with the wheat when it was damp – those who didn’t have still got a little bit to do.

“We finished wheat on Thursday (9 September), and some varieties had suffered more than others in the rain.”

Diego, Alchemy and Istabraq had sprouted where they had lodged, but where Alchemy remained standing it was fine, he said.

“Yields were 0.7-1.2t/ha (0.3-0.5t/acre) down, ranging from 7.4t/ha to 9.4t/ha (3-3.8t/acre), but bushelweights were still very good.”

Oilseed rape performed well, with the last block of Catana averaging 4.8t/ha (1.95t/acre).

Earlier Cabernet, Eiffel and Astrid did 4-4.2t/ha (1.6-1/7t/acre), with later Cabernet averaging 4.6t/ha (1.85t/acre). Spring oilseed rape came in at around 2.5t/ha (1t/acre).

Mr Stuart expected to start foraging maize today (15 September). “We still have about 1215ha (3000 acres) of harvesting to do.”

Crop: Winter wheat
Variety: Grafton
Yield: 7.4t/ha (3t/acre)

Variety: Alchemy
Yield: 9.4t/ha (3.8t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: Cabernet
Area: 80ha (200 acres)
Yield: 4.6t/ha (1.85t/acre)

Variety: Catana
Area: 80ha (200 acres)
Yield: 4.8t/ha (1.95t/acre)

Varieties: Cabernet, Eiffel and Astrid
Yield: 4-4.2t/ha (1.6-1.7t/acre)

Crop: Winter oats
Variety: Mascani
Yield: 7.4t/ha (3t/acre)

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Volume
Yield: 9.9t/ha (4t/acre)

Crop: Spring barley
Variety: Quench
Yield: 4.9t/ha (2t/acre)