Wheat nearly finished in the east

Farmers are reaching the end of their wheat in the south and east of England, but thunderstorms caused further frustration in the west over the weekend.

In Kent, Bill Harbour was cutting peas today (1 September), having finished his wheat on Friday.

The 38ha (93 acres) of Kahuna peas cut so far had averaged about 4.3t/ha (1.75t/acre). Wheat yields were also good, and Hagbergs had held up well, he said.

Mark Ireland also finished his winter wheat on Friday at Grange Farm, Sleaford, Lincs, and was now contract combining on the coast.

“We’re very pleased with the wheat.” Yields were about 15% up, averaging about 11t/ha (4.5t/acre). Quality on the coast was holding up well, he said.

In Bedfordshire, Brian Shaw was about 80% through his cereals, having been rained off with thunderstorms yesterday.

“We had a good week last week – we had three trailer loads below 15% moisture and I remember each one quite fondly,” he said.

So far quality looked reasonable. “There are no obvious signs of deterioration.”

Paul Bird finished combining his wheat on Saturday at Flashbrook Grange, Newport, Shrops.

“It was better than average – I think everything has done better than normal,” he said.

But it was a different story in Cornwall, where John Bond reckoned the wet summer had cost the business between £50,000 and £100,000.

Wheat was sprouting in the field and may have to be abandoned, he said. 

“It’s been a disaster. The crops had come through well and it’s really depressing to see them lying in the fields.”