Spring barley problems

Wheat harvest was going well until the rain came, said Mrs Padgett at Butchlands Farm in Littleport, Cambridgeshire.

Six hectares remain to be cut from 22ha, with yields averaging 7.5 – 8.75t/ha. She said this was fairly good, but was before the rain hit so expects yields could change. She is pleased with quality which looks very good, and thinks it should be alright as long as the rain doesn’t continue for too long.

She said 12ha of Spire and Cocktail spring barley was “a bit iffy” at 5.6t/ha. She said quality was very good but the crop just was not very heavy.

Mrs Padgett was pleased with moisture staying low and all the crop came in dry. She thinks progress is ahead of last year, but yields are about the same. She added: “We’ve had no complaints so far.”

• Crop/Variety: Malacca, Cordiale, Gladiator and Richmond winter wheat


• Area: 16ha


• Yield: 7.5 – 8.75t/ha


• Quality: N/A