The harvest had started well for Ian Savage in Hoxon, Suffolk, having cut 81ha of Carat and Sequel winter barley.

It was the first year he tried Sequel, which produced “very good results”. Yielding 9t/ha and resistant to BYMV, it “really looked good”.

The bushel weight of 68kg/hl was “a very nice weight”, and he was also pleased with the 69/70kg/hl weight of Carat.

He found the Sequel was “easy to combine” and planned to increase the area of the variety next year.

Mr Savage said: “We were blessed with moisture at the right time which brought the berries to cherry.”

Last year was “a bad harvest from too much water”, but the barley this year was “pleasant to harvest”.