Rain has stopped play at Tim Skinner’s Stoddards Farm, Beckley, Sussex, this afternoon (21 July).

“We cut our first field of oilseed rape yesterday, at 8.5% moisture,” he said. At 4.2t/ha (1.7t/acre), the 6ha (15 acres) of Excalibur had yielded slightly better than average.

After the oilseed rape would come winter oats. “They don’t look too bad – we were suffering from drought quite badly until about a week ago.

“Everyone is hoping the rain was enough to swell the wheat grain, but until we get into it we don’t know.”

Wheat was still about 10 days away from ripening, which was three to four days later than usual, said Mr Skinner.

“The Gallant will be the earliest, and it will be variable as different fields are holding on in different ways.”

Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: Excalibur
Area: 6ha (15 acres)
Yield: 4.2t/ha (1.7t/acre)