This week’s crop report shows hay yields are significantly less than normal in the South West.

Seventy-two per cent of the hay crop has now been baled or put into silage, with an additional 16 per cent cut and soon ready for baling.

Hay quality at this time is rated as 43 per cent good, 50 per cent fair and seven per cent poor.

Producers are likely to begin desiccating pulses and harvesting winter cereals in the coming weeks.

Crops are ripening quickly, although there are concerns that the hot weather will affect crops that are still flowering.