Sea mists delay harvest near Skegness

Harvest has been a stop-start affair at Willow Farm, Skegness, Lincolnshire, but David Pridgeon is managing to combine today (28 July).

“We had a lot of sea mists rolling in last week, which slowed us down – but the wind has changed now so it’s a lot drier,” he said.

So far Mr Pridgeon had cut half his oilseed rape and barley, and was pretty pleased with yields.

See also: All the news, videos and harvest resources on our Harvest Highlights page.

Crop facts

  • Crop: Winter barley
  • Variety: Venture
  • Yield: 9.9t/ha

“The Venture barley seems good; it’s pushing 9.9t/ha, and I think the hybrid barley will be better,” he said.

“Barley has been reliably good here for several years: I think the weather has been more favourable to barley than wheat.”

Charger oilseed rape had exceeded 5t/ha, with Compass coming in just under that and Palmedor high erucic rape yielding 4.2t/ha.

“Our wheat is about ready but I want to clear the winter barley and oilseed rape first,” said Mr Pridgeon.

“We’ve got a lot of Gallant and it’s struggled a bit with disease, so has died off a bit early.”

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