Winter wheat yields are disappointing at Genevieve Farms, but the best looking crops are still to come, says farm manager Kevin Hayhoe.

So far the first 32ha (80 acres) of Viscount and Oakley at Abbey Farm, Felthorpe, Norfolk, had yielded well below the farm average of 8.4t/ha (3.4t/acre).

Oakley had been badly affected by drought, yielding just 5.9t/ha (2.4t/acre), although Viscount had done better at 7.4t/ha (3t/acre).

“And the later crops do look better – but goodness knows what they would have been like if we hadn’t irrigated at all.”

Concerto spring barley at Place Farm, Ingham, Suffolk, was yielding about 4.9t/ha (2t/acre) on gravelly land, which was reasonable, he said.

Saffron winter barley ranged from about 6.2-7.4t/ha (2.5-3t/acre)

The most pleasing crop of harvest so far, without doubt, was the oilseed rape, said Mr Hayhoe.

Cabernet yielded 4.6t/ha (1.87t/acre) dry over a weighbridge, with Excel coming in at 4.4t/ha (1.77t/acre) and Dimension at 4.2t/ha (1.7t/acre).

“It’s weird, given the dry weather, but this is the best rape harvest we have ever had.”

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Crop: Spring barley
Variety: Concerto
Yield: 4.9t/ha (2t/acre)

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Crop: Winter wheat
Variety: Oakley
Area: 16ha (40 acres)
Yield: 5.9t/ha (2.4t/acre)

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

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Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: Cabernet
Area: 60ha (150 acres)
Yield: 4.6t/ha

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Variety: Excel
Area: 12ha (30 acres)
Yield: 4.4t/ha (1.77t/acre)

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Variety: Dimension
Yield: 4.2t/ha (1.7t/acre)

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Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Saffron
Yield: 6.2-7.4t/ha (2.5-3t/acre)

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