Continuing wet weather was frustrating harvesting attempts in Northern Ireland, where Graham Furey was yet to start on his spring barley.

Harvest was only about 40% through in County Down, he said, with about half of the wheat now in and just 5-10% of the spring barley cut.

“It’s a bit of a struggle.” His combine had not been out since Saturday (30 August) due to heavy rain, and crops were sprouting and shedding in the field.

Mr Furey had cut 32ha (80 acres) of Einstein and Alchemy, and yields were good at around 9.3t/ha (3.75t/acre).

However, each head contained two or three sprouted grains, and drying costs were horrendous, he said.

The winter barley, finished 10 days ago, averaged about 7.4t/ha (3t/acre), and the oilseed rape yielded a tremendous 4.9t/ha (2t/acre).

Although Mr Furey managed to drill most of his oilseed rape at the weekend, he still had 24ha (60 acres) of wheat to combine, as well as 10ha (25 acres) of winter oats, which looked well, and spring barley, which was shedding in the field.

Crop: Winter wheat
Variety: Einstein and Alchemy
Area: 32ha (80 acres)
Yield: 9.3t/ha (3.75t/acre)

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Pearl
Area: 16ha (40 acres)
Yield: 7.4t/ha (3t/acre)

Variety: Retriever
Area: 16ha (40 acres)
Yield: 7.4t/ha (3t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: Castille
Area: 14ha (35 acres)
Yield: 4.9t/ha (2t/acre)