There is only 8ha (20 acres) from 60ha (150 acre) of Optic spring barley still to do.

Yields were good, but the wet weather in the last two months has caused quality to be variable.

Nitrogen contents ranged from 1.7 to 1.95%.

“It was quite disappointing,” said Mr Kilby.

The barley did establish well early on in the year which led to Mr Kilby adding nitrogen to get the crop going.

“There wasn‘t sufficient crop bulk early on. It all came up in patches.”

Mr Kilby has been unable to get the winter barley straw out of the field yet, as it is simply too wet.

He said if he gets good weather then he‘s too busy with the wheat and spring barley to be able to do the baling.

20% of the 80ha (200 acre) wheat crop has been harvested so far, with less pleasing results.

“The quality is gone. Hagbergs dropped from 200 to 70 in just a couple of days.”

“It all looked beautiful before the rain – I‘ve never seen anything like it.”

He has harvested his Einstein and has just started Solstice with “unexciting yields”.