Brian Shaw expects to finish his last 40ha of Consort winter wheat today (Sept 2). He said there had not been enough rain to have damaged the crop, with first wheats coming in at 10t/ha, and second wheats on heavy land at 8.5 – 9t/ha.

Solstice has been the highest yielding variety at 11.5t/ha, but he said generally with all the wheats it was the soil type rather than the variety which affected them.

Spring beans did not do very well at 2t/ha which he said was due to the below average rainfall so the crop “just did not get going”.

Eighty hectares of Optic spring barley came in at 6.25t/ha.

Ten hectares of spring oilseed rape yielded 2t/ha, which also was affected by the dry spring. “It was a reminder why I don’t grow [spring oilseed rape].”

Mr Shaw said harvest had been easier than usual this year, with lower than average rainfall meaning little drying was needed. “It is good news that we’ve had low handling costs this year.”

Next year he plans to grow 400ha of oilseed rape and more winter and spring barley in place of some wheat. With second wheats only grown on heavy land, he hopes to lower the risk of poor margins on lighter land due to low prices.

• Crop/Variety: Winter wheat


• Area: 1000ha wheat


• Yield: First wheats 10t/ha, Second 8.5 – 9t/ha


• Quality: N/A

• Crop/Variety: Spring beans


• Area: 170ha


• Yield: 2t/ha


• Quality: N/A

• Crop/Variety: Optic spring barley


• Area: 80ha


• Yield: 6.25t/ha


• Quality: N/A