Despite recent rain, Jeremy Walker of Hadden Farm, Somerset was able to cut oilseed rape last night and hoped to go again later today.

Progress had been slow over the past week and the he was frustrated by the weather. “We’ve been smashing it in between the showers” he said.

The 45ha (112 acres) of NKGrace cut so far came in at 3.75 t/ha and a moisture content of 12%, which he intended to dry down to 9%.

Mr Walker noticed that his oilseed rape had more green material in the sample than normal, and the dampness had made it more difficult to combine. He didn’t want to have to pay the penalties for high moisture.

He said it was too wet to make a start on the Carat and Saffron winter barley and he was worried about what impact the wet weather would have, particularly as he wanted to use the straw for livestock bedding and feed.

Mr Walker hoped to continue combining oilseed rape today but said, “Tomorrow’s prospects look a bit dodgy. We want some good weather now.”

Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: NKgrace
Area: 45 ha
Moisture: 12%
Yield: 3.75 t/ha