Harvest is progressing well at Merton Estates, St Boswells, Kelso, although the combine has just been rained off today (31 July).

“We’ve completed the winter barley and it’s all looking quite good,” said Charlie Stewart. “It came in pretty dry and has very high specific weight, at 68-69kg/hl – unfortunately it’s just not worth very much.”

Volume averaged 8.4t/ha, with Archer for malting at 6.4t/ha, making for an overall farm average of 8t/ha.

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Mr Stewart had also cut 121ha of Cracker oilseed rape, which ranged from 3.58t to 4.32t, and averaged 3.95t/ha.

“It’s all come in quite dry, with nothing over 11% moisture and a lot at 8-9%, which makes life easier,” he said.

With another 162ha of oilseed rape left to cut, it wouldn’t be long before the combine moved into winter oats. “We’re spraying off the winter wheat today, so that won’t be far off.”

Mr Stewart was also burning off potatoes for seed, and getting ready to start cultivating for next year’s rapeseed planting.