Harvesting has picked up pace in the recent dry weather with 40% of winter wheat combined with a fifth of spring barley in the barn, according to the latest harvest report from crop consultants Adas.

This has seen 1.8m hectares of UK cereals and oilseed rape harvested up to 16 August, or about 55% of the national crop, bringing combining progress in line with the five-year average after a slow start to this season’s harvesting.

See also: Harvest 2016: Most milling wheats hit quality specs

Early wheat yields are typically about 7.8-8.0t/ha in line with the UK five-year average of 7.9t/ha, and the best yields are being seen in the eastern and south-west regions of England.

Wheat quality is good with most milling crops meeting breadmaking specifications.

Protein levels of crops cut in the last week averaged 12.8% within a 11.3-14% range, specific weights average 76kg/hl, and most milling samples were more than 300 Hagberg.

Some 20% of spring barley is now cut with typical yields of 5.8-6.0t/ha, above a five-year average of 5.6t/ha, with a weekly nitrogen content average of 1.6% and low screening with a weekly average of 3%.

The winter barley is now 95% cut with typical yields of 6.0-6.2t/ha, below a five-year average 6.8t/ha with screenings up at 5-10%, and low specific weights at 57 kg/hl.

Oilseed rape yields are typically 3.0-3.2t/ha down from a five-year average of 3.6t/ha, with 90% of the UK crop harvested.

Oil contents are variable but are tending to average on the low side at 42%.