Richard Payne was combining Alchemy winter wheat at 17.6% moisture yesterday (27 August) at Manor Farm, near Taunton, Somerset.

But with it costing about £7/t to dry he was considering whether to leave it for a few days in anticipation of better weather. “I am baulking at the drying costs.”

Yields for both Robigus and Alchemy had been reasonable at over 9.9t/ha (4t/acre), but Oakley was badly affected with Septoria and sprouting, and yielded just 8.6t/ha (3.5t/acre), he said.

“We won’t be growing that next year.”

Mr Payne now had 77ha (190 acres) of Alchemy and Deben to cut, and was busy drilling rape when not on combining.

His Castille and Catana this year were both pleasing, yielding 4.4t/ha (1.8t/acre), and the Saffron winter barley was also good, at almost 9.9t/ha (4t/acre).

Crop: Winter wheat
Varieties: Robigus and Alchemy
Area: 61ha (150 acres)
Yield: >9.9t/ha (4t/acre)

Variety: Oakley
Yield: 8.6t/ha (3.5t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Varieties: Castille and Catana
Yield: 4.4t/ha (1.8t/acre)

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Saffron
Area: 24ha (60 acres)
Yield: <9.9t/ha (4t/acre)