Tim Cooper started combining winter wheat at Spring Farm, Wix, Essex, yesterday (28 July), with mixed results.

“It’s not too exciting, but it’s not disastrous either. However, we’ve got worse to come,” he said.

The 8ha (20 acres) of Solstice came off at 7t/ha (2.8t/acre) and 16% moisture.

“It’s a very mixed crop – there are odd green bits, and other bits which were ripe early and died in the drought.”

Cassata winter barley yielded “dismally” at 4.9t/ha (2t/acre), but quality was good, despite slightly high nitrogen at 1.8%.

“The late rain washed the nitrogen in and we had quite a lot of regrowth.”

Flash oilseed rape rooted exceptionally well, and yielded a very pleasing 4.9t/ha (2t/acre), with good oil content, he added.

Crop: Winter wheat
Variety: Solstice
Area: 8ha (20 acres)
Yield: 7t/ha (2.8t/acre)

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Cassata
Yield: 4.9t/ha (2t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: Flash
Yield: 4.9t/ha (2t/acre)