Scottish grower Mike Cumming in Angus had not been affected by the wet weather sweeping across other parts of the UK. “It’s very dry here. We’ve had no rain for some time – only 2mm in August,” he said.

Sequel winter barley came in at 8.5t/ha (3.4t/ac) with very high bushel weights of 65kg/hl. Moistures were low – under 15%.

Oilseed rape had been completed more than a week ago with very variable results. Yields did not differ between the varieties Winner and NK Bravour, it was only dependent on the land. He said the thinner land had done better than the heavier land, with average yields of 4t/ha (1.6t/ac).

Of 72.8ha (182ac) of rape, 22ha was an experimental establishment behind spring barley. “This crop looked really awful in the spring, but it yielded as well as the crops we thought were our stars.”

Mr Cumming had cut 28ha (70ac) of 160ha (400ac) of Optic spring barley. He said it was designed for malting and was a decent crop of 7t/ha (2.8t/ac). One field had died off, yielding only 6t/ha (2.4t/ac), but he said the 7t/ha average was not as bad as he had originally thought.

Some wheat had been cut in Angus County, but he said none had been cut in his local area. “There are concerns the crop has gone off too quickly and we’re apprehensive about the small grains. The stuff that has been cut definitely succumbed to the drought.”

He added: “We’re going along quite nicely. It is 22 degrees today and a beautiful day with a light breeze.”

• Crop: Winter barley
• Variety: Sequel
• Area: N/A
• Yield: 8.5t/ha
• Quality: Bushel weight 65kg/hl, Moisture under 15%

• Crop: Oilseed rape
• Variety: Winner and NK Bravour
• Area: 72.8ha
• Yield: 4t/ha

• Crop: Spring barley
• Variety: Optic
• Area: 28ha of 160ha
• Yield: 7t/ha