Archive Article: 2001/09/14
SOUTH
WITH winter wheat cleared across much of southern England, combines went into beans and spring wheat during the week, bringing a drawn out campaign to a close.
Bean yields, like wheat and barley, vary from very good to disastrous depending on ground conditions.
"I know of one farm where winter beans have done 9cwt/acre and the spring crop has done 2.4t/acre. Thats how variable it is," says Glencores Robert Kerr. Overall winter bean yields are down and while spring yields are average to good, bruchid beetle damage is widespread. "Certainly 50% of samples are affected."
South-west barometer grower George Hosford hasnt seen any bruchid damage in his Victor, but is disappointed with both yield at 3.4t/ha and a stained sample. "Last year they yielded just under 2t/acre. This year they didnt get enough rain at the right time."
This week should see Senator oilseed rape cleared, completing his harvest. But in north Norfolk, parts of Lincs and the West Midlands pockets of winter wheat remain, plus spring wheat and beans.
At Rhoon Farm, Kings Lynn, barometer grower Stuart Knights Victor beans were not fit earlier this week, Paragon spring wheat being finished last weekend. Yield, at 6.2t/ha (2.5t/acre) was below the expected 7.5t/ha (3t/acre) but the sample looks good, he says.
Winter wheat yields on his farm were above budget (Arable, Aug 31) but across southern England as a whole wheat yields are about 10% below the five-year average, estimates Mr Kerr.
Add in 19-24% reduced plantings and most growers will have 30% less in the barn. "But that fact is already in the market."
A fortunate few in parts of Lincs, Hants and Herefordshire have had bumper yields, he adds. "The connecting factor is timeliness of drilling and free-draining soils."
That could equally be applied to spring barley which was drilled in windows from January through to April.
Co-operative stores in Wilts and Hants, drawing crop off mostly chalk land, report 80% of spring barley making malting quality. But Kents Weald Granary, with some crops coming from "one-off" growers forced into the crop on heavy ground, admits as few as 20% of samples will make the grade. *