Steven Lunn cracked on with combining throughout the wet weather, and has finished harvest at Westville Farm, Boston, Lincolnshire, if not the grain drying.

“We tend to get on when nobody else is – we had some quality wheat and we just wanted to get it in the shed, and I’m glad we did, although we’re still drying a bit.”

Wheat yields averaged 9.4-9.6t/ha (3.8-3.9t/acre), slightly below last year’s 10.1t/ha (4.1t/acre).

“The early Cordiale and Battalion were most disappointing, at 8.6t/ha (3.5t/acre) – Oakley was the star performer at over 10t/ha (4t/acre).

“But the Cordiale came in at 13% protein, with Battalion at 12.5%, so they will command a decent premium.”

Cabernet and Castille oilseed rape averaged 4.7t/ha (1.9t/acre) – slightly below last year’s 5.2t/ha (2.1t/acre).

“The Cabernet yielded better, at 5t/ha (2t/acre) plus, but it doesn’t have a nice looking seed. And we know Castille – it always seems to perform generally well.”

This year Mr Lunn was also trying some Sesame, to see how it performed.

Most farmers had now finished combining in the area, helped out by the past week’s dry weather.

“That has got them out of jail – there was still a lot to cut at the beginning of the week, but I can’t think of anyone who’s got anything left now.

“We don’t really want any more rain – the seedbeds will go to slush if we get much more.”

Crop: Winter wheat
Varieties: Solstice, Battalion, Grafton, Oakley and Viscount
Area: 255ha (630 acres)
Yield: 9.4-9.6t/ha (3.8-3.9t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Varieties: Cabernet and Castille
Area: 65ha (160 acres)
Yield: 4.7t/ha (1.9t/acre)