Wheat yield below average

16 August 2001



Wheat yield below average

WHEAT yields are below average for Bruce Udale, who farms at Eyton in Shropshire. He started combining Consort on Monday (13 August) and has done 60ha (150 acres) out of 400ha (1000 acres).

“I reckon we are 0.5t/acre down on average. We expect to get 3.3t/acre (8.1t/ha).” He says this was expected due to poor winter conditions. “In this area there are a lot of root crops grown. These were harvested late and the soil structure has been destroyed.”

Wheat is doing better on well-drained heavy land compared to lighter land. There is a mixture of soil on the farm, from clay to light blow-away sand.

Combining conditions were good up to yesterday, with 16% moisture and he says the sample looks good. But they have been stopped by an inch of rain overnight. The wheat is feed and he does not think the rain has done any damage, as they are only just ripe.

Overall he is disappointed with harvest even though it was expected. “No crops are performing.”

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