Phil Dowson started cutting wheat Saturday (Aug 12) at High House Farm, North Yorkshire. The crop was coming off at 19% moisture on Saturday, but rain had now stopped progress. “We haven’t moved since. We’ve had a lot of rain, so prospects are not good.”

He had cut 10ha (25ac) of Zebedee with wet yields of 10t/ha (4t/ac). “We got 105t off 25 acres so we’re quite pleased.”

Robigus was looking OK but he said it was very ripe so had to be cut soon. He hoped the quality would not be affected by the rain. Quality of Zebedee was good, and he was pleased with bushel weights of 74kg/hl considering it had been wet.

“It’s not a great forecast so we will be concerned if we don’t get some more wheat cut by the weekend.”

Zebedee had gone for biscuit wheat. It had been the first time he had grown the crop, and he had bought some more seed for next season.

Overall he added: “Things are not going very well. It’s a bit too wet at the moment.”

• Crop: Winter wheat
• Variety: Zebedee
• Area: 10ha
• Yield: 10t/ha
• Quality: 19% moisture, bushel weight 74kg/hl