UK wheat yields could be in contention for record highs this harvest, though some minor quality concerns persist.

According to the latest data from HGCA, though there is a high degree of variability, yields are currently averaging around 8 to 8.2 tonnes per hectare (over a ten year average of 7.7t/ha) as harvest enters its sixth week. If the pattern holds, yields could rival the record of 8.3 t/ha set in 2008.

Over the last week unsettled weather, including heavy rainfall across the East of the country as the remnants of hurricane Bertha arrived on UK shores, has slowed progress, halving the area of crops harvested compared to last week; area harvested fell to an estimated 320,000ha in week five. At the beginning of this week, the wheat harvest was estimated to be 45 percent complete.

The winter barley and winter oilseed rape harvest is said to be almost complete, with only small areas of crops in northern England and Scotland awaiting harvesting. However, completion was held up by last week's rainfall.

Although in several areas crops were waterlogged over winter, which caused problems which persist and have taken a toll, yields look to be above average this year for most other areas. Although yields look set to top the five year average, progress has dropped behind the fastest recent year, due to missed days over the past week. Harvesting has still progressed faster than average.

No data is yet available for crops harvested after recent rainfall and these crops will require drying, though quality appears to be generally high for the rest. However, protein levels are lower than growers would hope in milling wheat.

More information is available from HGCA here