Patrick May started combining winter barley at Beech Tree Farm, Westonzoyland, Somerset, on Sunday (3 July), and is pleased with yields so far.

“We delivered our first load of winter barley to store at Cannington Grain on Monday. We have only missed one year in about 15 years as their first delivery of the season by tractor and trailer,” he said.

“It was 6 row Siberia barley cut with a 1979 New Holland 8060 and came off at 3t/ac (7.4t/ha) with moisture at 12.5% and a bushel weight of 65kg/hl.”

Mr May was also busy making hay and silage, but had been rained off today (7 July). “We’ve got about 12 acres (5ha) of winter barley left, then we’ll have to wait for the winter wheat and spring barley,” said his wife Sandra.

“We sold the straw as standing straw, which made a very good price, and they were able to come and bale it before the rain.

“It’s been a good start to harvest, even though we had such a dry spell. Some crops around here are really struggling but since the rain ours have come on well.”

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Siberia
Yield: 7.4t/ha (3t/acre)