Earliest-ever barley harvest for Suffolk farm as combines roll

Suffolk farmers Peter and Richard Maddever started harvesting winter barley on 25 June – their earliest ever start and four days earlier than the previous family record set in 2022.

The family, who farm at Scotts Farm, Cavendish, on the Suffolk-Essex border, have cut about 30ha of hybrid feed barley so far.

The grain, destined for export through Ipswich Docks, has come in at exceptionally low moisture content after months of hot, dry weather.

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“We’ve had anything from 12% to 14% moisture. I couldn’t believe that,” Richard Maddever said.

“We thought we’d start in the worst field because we were worried the crop might not all be fit, but it was. It’s just so dry.”

The early start follows a prolonged dry spell, with no significant rainfall since the middle of February apart from good rainfall around two weeks before harvest.

The lack of rainfall has accelerated crop maturity, although barley yields from the first lighter land have been slightly below expectations.

The first field yielded about 6.5t/ha, while the second averaged 7.5t/ha.

Richard is hoping the barley on heavier land will perform better, with yields of 8-8.5t/ha still looking achievable.

“The first couple of fields have been a bit disappointing and a bit below average.

“But I think the rain came at just enough time to save some of the yields,” he said.

Bigger combine

PH Maddever Farms has changed to a larger Claas Lexion 8800 combine this season and is aiming to avoid grain drying wherever possible to reduce costs.

“Because of costs, I will very much be aiming not to dry anything.

“Given the electricity and fuel costs, drying is the last thing I want to be doing this year.”

Despite the record-breaking early start, Mr Maddever said the season remains finely balanced.

Disease pressure was high earlier in the year and spring crops have suffered in the dry conditions, while low grain prices continue to concern growers.

A ‘fit’ barley crop at Scotts Farm © Richard Maddever

“I would love to be able to keep these crops in the store for months.

“But even storing grain is expensive now and every farm needs cashflow at harvest,” said Mr Maddever.

The farm still has about 180ha of winter barley to cut, followed by around 900ha of wheat, beans, oats and other crops.

Mr Maddever said the business also has around nine Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements in place across the farms it owns, rents and contract farms, adding further financial uncertainty at a time of weak grain prices.

Bucking the trend

Looking back, Mr Maddever said the family’s latest record continues a trend towards earlier harvests.

“My father said for so many years that the 5 July was the earliest harvest he’d ever had. He said we’d never ever break that record again,” he said.

“And it just keeps creeping earlier and earlier.”

Peter Maddever, who made that prediction, was on the combine today (Friday 26 June) as this year’s record-breaking early harvest gathered pace.

Summing up the season so far, Mr Maddever described himself as “nervously optimistic”.

Farmers Weekly understands a number of other arable farms, especially in southern and eastern England, are due to start harvesting crops today.

Andrew Blenkiron, farm manager at Elveden Estates on the Norfolk-Suffolk border, said he was holding off on starting the barley harvest because of the heightened fire risk and concerns about putting hot grain into store.

However, he said he could begin later today if temperatures ease.

• Email your harvest stories, including photos and videos, to philip.case@markallengroup.com