As the longest day draws to a close, the place is in a state of near suspension. On the tillage front, little more can be done in the run up to harvest except tedious jobs such as making sure there are no wild oats in the seed wheat and that the gluten-free oats are free of contamination.

We have strimmed the headland of the oats to get rid of any brome that was showing, but other than that, the crop looks clean and is standing well.

The above-average rain during May and the absence of high temperatures since then have clearly encouraged crops to keep growing

I cannot see any of the reported frost damage that seems to have affected the panicles of oat crops in some parts of the country, but the real answer will be told during the harvest.

The harvest itself is going to be later, in my view, than we thought earlier on.

The above-average rain during May and the absence of high temperatures since then have clearly encouraged crops to keep growing. Over the last few years, we have started the winter barley in the first week in July – it looks as if it will be at least the third week this year. We have theoretically sold the winter barley straw for use in the thoroughbred horse industry, but this is a very choosy market and, apart from the crop having to be clean, it needs good weather and ideally should be baled without a drop of rain once harvested. The winter wheat is now flowering and the bees are busy with the bean blossoms.

I have always found the beans the most difficult crop to forecast the yield of

The beans have been treated for chocolate spot disease, a fungus infection which can cause yield devastation if unchecked. I have always found the beans the most difficult crop to forecast the yield of – so far, the year seems to have suited them, but it’s a long way to the expected harvest date of mid-September. On the grass side, despite tight grazing in controlled paddocks, grass quality has noticeably deteriorated, with the dry spell leading to premature seed heads. We will, if the dry spell continues, take some of the heaviest covers out as hay and top some of the lighter ones.