Harvest roundup: Braving the conditions
Farmers are braving the wet weather in a bid to get crops cut, with harvest now a week behind in Scotland but almost finished elsewhere.
Across the UK, wheat harvest was ahead of the five-year average, with 90% of the crop cut by Tuesday, said a report by the HGCA.
Yields remained slightly below average, at 7.5-7.7t/ha (3-3.1t/acre), and Hagbergs were starting to drop due to the wet weather.
Spring barley harvest was 95% complete in England and Wales, but was falling behind in Scotland, with just 45% cut.
“There are some reports of sprouting where harvest is delayed in northern regions.”
In Angus, James Porter only started combining wheat today (8 September) at West Scryne Farm, Carnoustie, in an attempt to beat the wet weather.
“I’ve cut the grand total of 5ha (12 acres) of Alchemy – we can’t afford to wait any more, because I’m worried about sprouting.
“Harvest is a week behind normal – nothing has sprouted yet, but I’ve got Scout and Beluga to cut as well, and they just keep getting rained on.”
In County Durham, Michael Manners was lifting potatoes today at Conicliffe Grange, Staindrop, having finished cereal harvest about a week ago.
“It’s been very stop-start, but wheat yields have been good, averaging 10.8t/ha (4.37t/acre).”
The Hermes potatoes were unbelievable, he said. “They’re probably doing 62-64t/ha (25-26t/acre) – that’s far more than we budgeted for.”
Harvest had been a mixed bag at Ranby Hall, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, with yields ranging from very poor to above average.
“The light Wold yields were very poor, but heavy land was very good,” said Jonathan Booth. “Overall, it’s probably been an average year.”
In France, farmers had harvested 33.5m tonnes of wheat this year; 1m tonnes more than forecast in August, but 2.2m tonnes down on last year.
The German wheat harvest was almost complete and should reach 22.6m tonnes – a 3.7% drop on 2010, said a report by analyst Agritel.
“Considering domestic needs, the export surplus should reach 3m tonnes.”
