“I‘ve never cut barley with such big yields in my life,” he said from his combine seat this morning (Monday July 26).

“The Colossus is hitting the magic 10t/ha and the Sequel isn‘t far behind with a slightly better sample.”

Judging by trailer loads off the field yields are about 1.2t/ha (0.5t/acre) ahead of his previous norm with six-row Manitou a few years ago, he added.

“We moved to Pearl in between but couldn‘t get the yield – we were lucky to do 3t/acre.”

Having started last Friday (July 22) he expected to finish his 24ha (59 acres) of winter barley today.

“We‘ve not had the dryer going at all. It was 15% when we started, is 14% now, and we had one load yesterday at 13.5%.

I‘m just sticking it in the back of the shed to store it.”

If the weather holds swathed Elan oilseed rape should go by Wednesday. “That looks a lovely crop too.”