Yesterday’ and today’s rain has meant Hereford farmer Jamie Rogers can get on with other jobs around the farm thanks to a break in harvesting whihc is cuaisng few concerns with harvest two weeks earlier than normal.

The early start has also opened a window to drill 30ha of stubble turnips at the end of combining.

A third of the wheat has so far been combined with Einstein yielding 4t/acre and Gladiator being disappointing at 3.5t/acre.

The rape has also had its ups and downs this year.

Expert came in at 1.5t/acre whilst Castille yielded a disappointing 1.2t/acre. Mr Rogers put this down to being drilled on heavy, cloddy, dry land which resulted in poor establishment. “I judged it by looking at the calendar and not the soil quality. It has struggled all year”.

Camion winter barley yielded a respectable 7.2t/ha but had short straw due to the dry weather.

Moisture content was around average across the board with rape at 7-9%, barley at 14% and wheat at 12-15%.

Mr Rogers is hopeful for the second wheat which is a week off from being fit at least.

• Crop: Wheat
• Variety: Gladiator
• Area: 15ha
• Yield: 3.5t/acre
• Quality: Moisture 12-15%

• Crop: Wheat
• Variety: Einstein
• Area: 40ha
• Yield: 4t/acre
• Quality: Moisture 12-15%

• Crop: Oilseed rape
• Variety: Castille
• Area: 30ha
• Yield: 1.2t/acre
• Quality: Moisture 7-9%

• Crop: Oilseed rape
• Variety: Expert
• Area: 16ha
• Yield: 1.5t/acre
• Quality: Moisture 7-9%

• Crop: Winter barley
• Variety: Camion
• Yield: 7.2t/ha
• Area: 23ha
• Quality: 14% moisture