Harvest 2010: Slow start to harvest
Rain and strong winds have delayed harvesting by at least a week in parts of the UK.
Farmers in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk were reporting today (Friday 16 July) that crops of winter barley were ready to cut.
But, repeated showers in the last week meant the ground was too wet to combine for many.
Contract farmer Mark Lake, who farms 2400ha (6000 acres) near Newmarket, had managed to combine half of his winter barley crop of Flagon.
“We only had a couple of millimetres of rain so we were able to get on with the combine,” he said.
“We have cut about 200ha (500 acres) of barley, which has yielded between 6.2 – 6.6t/ha over light land, which is lower than we had expected.
“The barley has been sold to Frontier where it’s in a pool waiting to be priced up.”
Malting barley quality has been “reasonable” so far, according to Norfolk grain merchant Dewing Grain.
Farmers have cut about 5% of their winter barley in the area and the quality was fine for malting with samples showing low nitrogen content.
“Yields have been a real mixed bag, they are average to below average at the moment, but it’s very early days,” said Owen Southwood, senior grain trader at Dewing Grain.
“This is probably due to soil type variability. A lot of lighter land soils do not seem to be yielding well, but on heavier land, it’s been a bit better.”
Martin Spence, a tenant farmer at Wolvey Holes Farm, in Ealing, Cambridgeshire, was typical of many growers in the east, whose plans had been scuppered.
“The crop is ready to be cut, but the showers have left it too wet to get the combine out,” he said.
Mr Spence has already sold his 5ha (12 acres) of winter barley last month on a contract for £84/t.
“It looks OK, but I’m not expecting any high yields,” he added.
Mr Spence planned to cut his winter wheat after the barley, but said the crop looked dry. “I’m not expecting to break any records,” he lamented.
Roger Middleditch, owner of Prior Farm, in Wrentham, Norfolk, aimed to harvest his crop of winter barley early next week.
“We have got some Flagon and Carat and one block of Pearl to cut,” said Mr Middleditch, who farms 2200ha with his cousin Robert.
Mr Middleditch said the 35mm of rain that fell in the week was the first significant amount of rainfall in the area since March.
“The rain has done the roots some good, but yields are going to be down on last year, there’s no question about that,” he said.
Robert Mayham said conditions were “soggy” at Bilting Grange Farm, in Ashford, Kent.
Therefore he has taken a week’s holiday in Devon before the hard work begins
“We sprayed off the Canberra rape last Saturday, but it will be another week before we begin harvesting it,” said Mr Mayham.
His biggest headache, however, was deciding when to sell his crop.
Earlier in the week, market volatility amid adverse weather conditions across Europe causing yield concerns sent prices soaring by as much as £15/ha.
“It’s a balancing act of harvest and trying to sell it at the right time,” said Mr Mayham.
• Keep up-to-date as this year’s harvest unfolds at our Harvest Highlights webpage at www.fwi.co.uk /harvest-highlights
