The NFU is calling on its members to take part in an online survey to help build a picture of harvest 2012.

The annual survey of combinable crops is the first source of published data on production levels in the UK and is published up to a month before DEFRA’s official statistics. Anecdotal evidence points to highly variable results so far this year.

The survey will attempt to get as full a picture as possible of the wheat crop in England by mid-September and the year’s harvest to date by early October.

Questions cover areas such as the effect the wet summer on cereals and oilseeds, the success of the higher winter crop areas and lower planting of spring crops, and the effect the difficult field conditions has had on the crop.

NFU chief combinable crops adviser Guy Gagen said: “Without the information provided by members in previous seasons it would have simply been impossible to generate an accurate estimate as we are relying on this input in order to maintain our accurate track record with harvest results.

“Now that the survey is available online it will be even easier for our members to record crucial information about their harvest, and put together that all important national picture to keep farmers on the front foot in price negotiations.

“We need as many of our members as possible to fill the survey in, as without their input, this simply wouldn’t be possible.”

More on this topic

See our Harvest Highlights page