Harvest has performed a spectacular U-turn at Mike Hambly’s Westcott Barton, Callington, Cornwall, this year.

Despite looking like another wash out for the fourth year running, all the crops are now safely in the barn, and yields turned out to be some of the best ever.

“It’s rather embarrassing really – having been full of woe we’ve had one of our best harvests ever,” said Mr Hambly.

“We were completely saved by a dry week which came just at the right time – we’ve been very fortunate.”

However, he didn’t waste any time when the weather improved, getting on combining at 21% moisture to start with.

“We had outstanding yields of 10.77t/ha (4.36t/acre) across the whole acreage of Diego, which was a first wheat. It was quite remarkable.”

Although some of the wheat had sprouted, bushelweights remained high at 75-77kg/hl. “My father said he’d never cut such heavy sheaves for the harvest festival.”

Saffron and Cassia winter barley yielded slightly below average at 8.15t/ha (3.3t/acre) – although the first cut fields were better at over 9t/ha (3.6t/acre).

“We lost quite a lot of heads where it had brackled over.”

Mascani winter oats were pleasing, at 7.53t/ha (3t/acre), with a bushelweight of 51-53kg/hl. “We only had one deduction for low bushelweight.”

And Pioneer W22 and W31 produced record yields, at 4.8t/ha (1.93t/acre), with an oil content of 45.3%.

“There is still some spring barley left around here, and some of it’s not quite fit. But I hope all the wheat is in as it wouldn’t have taken a lot more rain.

“We have spent a bit on drying, but we got there in the end – it’s gone some way to making up for last year.”

Crop: Winter wheat
Variety: Diego
Area: 24ha (60 acres)
Yield: 10.77t/ha (4.36t/acre)

Crop: Winter barley
Varieties: Cassia and Saffron
Area: 28ha (70 acres)
Yield: 8.15t/ha (3.3t/acre)

Crop: Winter oats
Variety: Mascani
Yield:7.53t/ha (3t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Varieties: W22 and W31
Area: 26ha (63 acres)
Yield: 4.8t/ha (1.93t/acre)