John Best managed to combine his winter oats between the showers over the Bank Holiday weekend at Acton House Farm, Poyntzpass, County Armagh.

The 53ha (130 acres) of Mascani oats yielded 6.4t/ha (2.6t/acre), and today (27 August) Mr Best was making a start on his Brompton winter wheat.

“It’s looking good – it’s standing reasonably well although it does have a little bit of sprouting.” It was coming in at 23% moisture but it was too soon to guess at the yield, he said.

Mr Best now had 142ha (350 acres) of Brompton, Robigus and Ambrosia winter wheat to cut, followed by 12ha (30 acres) of beans.

However, others in the area still had winter barley to cut in places, he said. “It’s badly deteriorated now.”

Crop: Winter oats
Variety: Mascani
Area: 53ha (130 acres)
Yield: 6.4t/ha (2.6t/acre)

Crop: Winter wheat
Varieties: Brompton, Robigus and Ambrosia
Area: 142ha (350 acres)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Varieties: Castille and Excalibur
Area: 49ha (120 acres)
Yield: 4.2t/ha (1.7t/acre)