Philip Chamberlain said harvest had been “intermittent” at Crowmarsh Battle Farm, Wallingford. “One of the main problems was we lost a combine to fire early on, which didn’t help the case.”

He said yields were at “extremes” with Alchemy the highest at 10.4t/ha (4.16t/acre) and second wheat Hereward “struggling” at 7t/ha (2.8t/acre). Einstein, Robigus and Xi19 came in at 8.5-9t/ha (3.4-3.6t/ha), Malacca and Solstice came in at 8t/ha (3.2t/acre), and Nijinsky was “disappointing” on poorer land at 7t/ha. The overall wheat average was 8.5t/ha.

Quality was also variable. “It just made the right protein levels for milling, but they were not as high as we would have liked.”

Next year he planned to grow 700ha (1750acres) of winter wheat, which is less than this year due to losing a 130ha (325acres) contract farm. Varieties for next year would be Alchemy, Xi19, Hereward for a local market, Einstein and second wheat Deben. He also would be growing Malacca on a contract farm for a local market because “it consistently does over 8t/ha”.

Oilseed rape had been variable this year with 2.3t/ha (0.9t/acre) on one field, but 3.3-3.5t/ha (1.3-1.4t/acre) on the rest of the crop.

Oats had averaged 7t/ha, and winter beans “were a disaster”.

Spring barley did not quite make 6t/ha (2.4t/acre), but he said it would all go for malting as it met nitrogen specification at 1.7-1.8%.

• Crop: Winter wheat
• Variety: Various
• Area: 830ha?
• Yield: Alchemy 10.4t/ha (4.16t/acre), Hereward 7t/ha (2.8t/acre). Einstein, Robigus, Xi19 8.5-9t/ha (3.4-3.6t/ha). Malacca, Solstice 8t/ha (3.2t/acre), Nijinsky 7t/ha. Average 8.5t/ha
• Quality: Variable

• Crop: Spring barley
• Variety: Optic
• Area: N/A
• Yield: 6t/ha (2.4t/acre)
• Quality: Nitrogen 1.7-1.8%