NFU launches harvest survey

The NFU is urging members to take part in its 2013 harvest survey, to help pull together an accurate picture of crop yields and production in England.

With the extreme winter and spring weather affecting plantings and yields of both cereals and oilseeds across the country, gathering information direct from growers would be a vital part of producing accurate crop estimates this year, said chief arable adviser Guy Gagen.

“Without the information provided by members it would have simply been impossible to generate an accurate estimate in the past, as we rely on members’ input to maintain our accurate track record with harvest results.”

The survey is available online at nfuonline, and the NFU is asking for responses by 13 September, although submissions up to 4 October would be accepted for later harvested crops.

Reflecting issues like lower winter cropping areas, increased spring crop plantings, and the impact of difficult field conditions, the survey would give the first indication of national production, published up to a month before Defra’s official statistics, said Mr Gagen.

“We need as many of our members as possible to fill the survey in, as without their input, it simply would not be possible to paint a picture of the 2013 harvest on a national scale.”