Our latest crop update came on the day when the front pages were covered in pictures of glorious sun rises of the summer solstice. All around us, neighbouring farmers were making hay before the expected break in the weather.

Our job for the day was checking the crop for unwanted grass weeds such as wild oats, sterile brome or canary grass. If possible all are pulled and removed. This job gives us a chance to assess crop progress and how our disease prevention strategy is working.

This year’s crop of Laureate seemed to have little our no disease. Other varieties locally had some Ramularia and Netblotch. It wasn’t a heavy looking crop. Distilling barley needs to be low protein and so Nitrogen is used sparingly. Even though the crop didn’t look very thick it had that lovely barley smell. Rabbits had caused some damage to the edge of the field but the barley was starting to outgrow them.

Overall we were happy with crop progress so far. We hope for a kind spell of weather over the next few weeks before harvest.