Patchy rain was slowing things up for Giles Porter in Farnham Surrey. “We’re caught in the middle of a rain storm, but it’s going ok – we have nearly cut all the wheat.”

Wheat harvest was “fairly pleasing” with Malacca yielding 9.4t/ha (3.75t/ac) and Solstice at 9.75t/ha (3.9t/ac) from 720ha (1800ac). He was pleased the crop all came in dry, straight into the barn and quality was good. He said protein and Hagbergs should be ok and bushel weight was good.

Some of the crop had been sold on contract but a third of the wheat remained to be sold.

Next year he planned to grow Alchemy, Claire and Robigus, dropping the milling wheat. “The premium just doesn’t seem to be there for milling wheat. It doesn’t cover the extra costs so we’re taking the risk and dropping them.”

Oilseed rape had been a little disappointing, with 270ha (675ac) yielding 3.75t/ha (1.5t/ac) despite having hoped for 4.4t/ha (1.75t/ac). “It had looked very good but it went off very quickly. The pods didn’t fill out from the drought. But considering what some people got, it wasn’t too bad.”

Mr Porter said all varieties yielded very similarly, but Astrid and Castille were probably the better varieties.

• Crop: Winter wheat
• Variety: Malacca and Solstice
• Area: 720ha (1800ac)
• Yield: Malacca – 9.4t/ha, Solstice – 9.75t/ha

• Crop: Oilseed Rape
• Variety: Excaliber, Lioness, Pollen, Astrid, Castille
• Area: 270ha (675ac)
• Yield: 3.75t/ha (1.5t/ac)