Harvest Highlights: Stop-start progress

Send us your views on harvest progress/prospects: Karen.Willmer@rbi.co.uk

Quality is holding up well, despite rain causing a stop-start progress for most, according to latest reports. But variable yields have disappointed many growers worried about low prices and rising fuel costs.

Scottish Borders farmer John Jeffrey said oilseed rape has been very poor for him this year, with 48ha of Winner yielding 3.1t/ha, 0.6t/ha down on last year. But he said quality looked good and it met oil content targets.

Andrew Symonds in Worcestershire was pleased with Einstein winter wheat yielding 9t/ha. He was also pleased the crop did not suffer in the rain with protein coming in at 12.2% and Hagbergs of 310.

Optic spring barley was also good quality with nitrogen averaging 1.6%. Yields were around 6.5 – 7t/ha. He said: “Good harvest yields, but it’s a shame about the price.”

Don Bunting from Glencore in the south-east said 60-70% of the main milling wheats had been cut in the area with good yields, high protein levels and high Hagbergs. 

Norfolk farmer Nick Pratt was very pleased with the quality of Cocktail spring barley with 1.5-1.75% nitrogen levels and screenings of 1-3%. Yields were averaging 6t/ha, with some parts up to 7t/ha. He was pleased with 20ha of Access wheat yielding 8.2t/ha.

Robin Baines in Norfolk said spring barley yields were average or just above, with good screenings and low nitrogen. He suggested high fuel prices are a factor making people reconsider growing crops: “Unless prices firm, there will be a reduction in the area sown.”

See FWi’s new Harvest Highlights section for the regional reports in full and more from around the country, updated every day.