Farming News - Harvest 90 percent complete

Harvest 90 percent complete

 

The latest figures from crop consultancy ADAS show that the UK combinable crop harvest is 90 percent complete, with activity having sped up from a slow start.  

 

ADAS said on Thursday that only small areas of late drilled cereals and break crops are left to harvest. The majority of the remaining crops left to harvest are in Scotland and northern England. Despite the late start to harvest, rapid progress in the last couple of weeks means that the end of harvest is now similar to recent years.

 

Yields continue to exceed expectations, with spring cereals and spring oilseed rape yielding above farm averages. Though winter wheat and winter oilseed rape are slightly below the national average, yields are still better than expected, the independent consultancy said.

 

AHDB/HGCA provisional quality data for wheat and barley has also confirmed early reports that quality is good, with plenty of milling and malting quality samples due to drier conditions at harvest.


Summary


  • Wheat 95 percent GB area harvested – Current national average yield estimate 7.6-7.7 t/ha; specific weight average 76-78 kg/hl; Hagberg falling number (group 1) 347 seconds; protein average 12.9% but variable.
  • Winter barley 100% GB area harvested – National average yield estimate 6.7-6.9 t/ha.
  • Spring barley 85% GB area harvested – Current national average yield estimate 5.5-5.7 t/ha. All barley from HGCA survey - specific weights average 67.9 kg/hl; grain nitrogen 1.66%; screenings 2.0%.
  • Oats 80% GB area harvested – Current average yield estimate 5.7-5.9 t/ha; specific weights average 51 kg/hl.
  • Winter oilseed rape 98% GB area harvested – Current average yield estimate 3.2-3.4 t/ha; typical oil content 42-46%.
  • Spring oilseed rape 25% GB area harvested – Occasional crops harvested; early yields are good.

 

ADAS' full report, compiled for HGCA, can be viewed here.