Edward Whitfield has finished combining milling wheat at Gibbs Farm, Spalding, Lincolnshire, but yields and protein content have been disappointing.

“We’ve got 283ha (700 acres) of the 364ha (900 acres) of wheat cut so we’re quite pleased – and we got all the milling wheat in before the last lot of rain.

“Yields haven’t been very good because the milling wheat was on light land.”

Cordiale ranged from 4.9t/ha (2t/acre) on light gravel, up to 8.6t/ha (3.5t/acre) on better soils. But protein was low, at 11.5-13%. “I don’t understand why.”

Feed wheat on heavier land was yielding better, said Mr Whitfield.

And oilseed rape did well, ranging from 3.3t/ha (1.35t/acre) on gravel to 5.2t/ha (2.1t/acre) on heavier soil.

“We had Cabernet, Vision and Astrid, and the Cabernet just seemed to pip the rest. But soil type has made all the difference this year.”

Crop: Winter wheat
Varieties: Cordiale and Hereward
Area: 283ha (700 acres)
Yield: 4.9-8.6t/ha (2-3.5t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Varieties: Cabernet, Vision and Astrid
Area: 200ha (500 acres)
Yield: 3.3-5.2t/ha (1.35-2.1t/acre)