Starting barley harvest near Winchester

Neil Saunders has finished combining oilseed rape at DJ & ME Saunders & Son, Winchester, Hampshire, and has now started cutting winter barley.

“The Camelot oilseed rape was very disappointing,” he said.

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

“I’ve heard a lot of reports around us of rape yielding 2.5-3t/ha, and I did feel the canopy hadn’t formed well, so it was no great surprise.”

Crop facts

  • Crop: Oilseed rape
  • Variety: Camelot
  • Area: 72ha
  • Yield: 3t/ha

However, the Cassia winter barley was more promising. “It rained last night (17 July) so we’ve only just been twice round the headland,” said Mr Saunders.

“It’s coming off at 15.8% moisture, but it’s too early to tell what the yield will be.”

Winter wheat and spring barley also looked extremely well, he added. “I’m pretty optimistic about the rest of harvest.”

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