Jim Macfarlane finished his spring barley and rape at Edintore, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, yesterday (27 August), and hoped to start on wheat today.

“We keep snatching bits and pieces,” he said. The Oxbridge spring barley yielded at least 6.2t/ha (2.5t/acre) and would go for malting.

“I was hearing a lot of reports of sprouting in Oxbridge so I abandoned the rape to cut it.”

The Catana, Lioness and Flash oilseed rape all averaged a similar yield of 4.4t/ha (1.8t/acre) – about the norm for Mr Macfarlane’s land. However, 10% of it had sprouted.

Cassata winter barley yielded well at 8.6t/ha (2.5t/acre) but had a lot of wheat in it after drilling it using minimum tillage, he said.

The Zebedee, Robigus and Alchemy winter wheat looked bright and was just ready to cut now. “Ground conditions are wet – we’re making a terrible mess but I’ve seen it worse.”

Crop: Spring barley
Variety: Oxbridge
Area: 39ha (96 acres)
Yield: 6.2t/ha (2.5t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Varieties: Catana, Lioness and Flash
Area: 51ha (125 acres)
Yield: 4.4t/ha (1.8t/acre)

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Cassata
Area: 22ha (55 acres)
Yield: 8.6t/ha (2.5t/acre)

Crop: Winter wheat
Varieties: Zebedee, Robigus and Alchemy