WEST
WEST
COMBINES standing sheeted in part-harvested wheats all last week, testify to the growing concern over sample quality.
Barometer growers Andrew and Tony Symonds at Stourport-on-Severn had rain on six of the seven days up to Monday, including 5.08mm (2in) over three days. None of the remaining 40ha of wheat has been cut.
"The Chablis spring wheat is going down, but the Brigadier and Reaper is standing well," says Tony Symonds. The grain is darkening, but there are no signs of sprouting – yet.
"We will not get too worried for another week, but it is frustrating to be at a standstill for eight days with just four days of harvesting left."
With moisture at 26%, and showers forecast, the plan is to combine for a few hours during afternoon weather windows if moisture falls to 20% and use the 10t batch drier on wet days.
Richard Tutton, who farms close to the England border in Powys, had harvested three quarters of his 43.7ha of Galahad winter wheat a fortnight ago. By the middle of this week 6ha remained and was sprouting.
Although growers in Shropshire, Hereford, Worcester and Wales are badly affected by rain, conditions have been marginally better in Cheshire. Stephen Shaw, Aston Grange, Runcorn, has finished wheat, averaging 9t/ha (3.6t/acre). "We decided to press on with moistures at 18%, and bear the drying costs."
He has also direct harvested Sprinter spring rape at 12% moisture and 3.08t/ha (25 cwt/acre) yield. Merchants in the region say a growing shortage of milling wheat is pushing prices up.