Russell Fraser has finished cutting winter wheat at Tiln Farms Ltd, Retford, Nottinghamshire, leaving just spring barley left to do.

“We finished a week ago on Sunday (7 August) – we got a contractor in and as nobody else was ready to go it went very quickly.

“The wheat hasn’t yielded very well, but the quality is good, so that’s something.”

The Gallant had averaged 5.4-5.7t/ha (2.2-2.3t/acre), at 81kg/hl, 14.4-14.5% protein and over 300 Hagberg.

Winter barley didn’t fare too badly, averaging just under 6t/ha (2.4t/acre) across the farm.

“The Cassata yielded better than the Suzuka, which was a bit thin, and the Cassia beat them both.”

With low screenings and a nitrogen content of 1.4-1.7% the Cassata would make malting, said Mr Fraser.

Fashion oilseed rape on heavier land started well, but tailed off to average 3.7-4t/ha (1.5-1.6t/acre), with Vision on lighter land proving disappointing at less than 2.5t/ha (1t/acre) in places.

“That brought the overall average down to 3t/ha (1.2t/acre).”

Mr Fraser now had 60ha (150 acres) of spring barley left to cut. “It’s only just about getting fit, but if we get a couple of dry days it should ripen nicely.”

Although the weather had not been ideal for cereals, the lack of hot weather was benefiting the root crops, he added. “They have grown on very nicely.”

Crop: Winter wheat
Variety: Gallant
Area: 106ha (262 acres)
Yield: 5.4-5.7t/ha (2.2-2.3t/acre)

Crop: Winter barley
Varieties: Cassata, Cassia and Suzuka
Yield: <6t/ha (2.4t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Varieties: Fashion and Vision
Yield: 3t/ha (1.2t/acre)