Barley yield down, as expected

26 July 2001



Barley yield down, as expected

IN two days Richard Solari, who farms at Beckbury near Shifnal in Shropshire, has combined 25ha (60 acres) of Vertige barley.

12ha (30 acres) of Regina barley has also been cut and both are going for feed. The crops are variable, he reports.

“Its died on the sandy soil, but the crop looks better on the better land, although its not quite fit. Weve left some areas on each field.”

It has yielded 6.2t/ha (2.5t/acre) which is 1.2t/ha (0.5t/acre) down on the five year average.

“This is what we expected. Its a combination of a wet autumn while trying to get the crops in and a very dry May.”

Other farmers in the area are also having a variable start. “There are only a handful started at the moment.”

He also has some spring barley and winter wheat and he does not expect much of a wait between crops.