According to the latest results from HGCA, by 31st July about 40 per cent of winter barley and 20 per cent of oilseed had been cut and yields are around the five year average.

Despite challenging conditions in many regions, HGCA said winter barley yields have been collected from seven out of 27 winter barley Recommended Lists sites with trials harvested from Devon up to the Scottish Borders and across to Essex. The average yield currently stands just .1 of a per cent below the five year average at 8.88 tonnes per hectare, compared to 8.89 t/ha.

Of the varieties currently on the Recommended List, the six row hybrid variety Volume has so far performed best, yielding at 109 per cent of the average yield. The highest six row conventional yield is from KWS Meridian at 104 per cent and the two row feed variety KWS Cassia weighs in at 103 per cent. The highest yield of the quality two row malting varieties was SY Venture which achieved a yield of 101 per cent. Upon releasing its data yesterday, HGCA said figures remain provisional and there are more results yet to come in.

Yields have been highest in Essex and Lincolnshire, though they have been relatively good throughout the country, with the exception of a lower yield from the single Scottish site.

Untreated barley yields average 6.15 t/ha based on five results, down on the five year average of 7.38 t/ha, which HGCA said reflects the high disease pressure experienced from a wetter than average year. A trial in Devon recorded the lowest untreated yields.

The HGCA barley results are available here 

Harvest was delayed by around a week due to adverse weather in many regions. Although yields are around average, there has been a large degree of variation in winter barley, of between four and 10 t/ha.

Early indications from oilseed rape show crops are yielding at around 3.5t/ha, close to the five year average, though lower than last year’s record average of 3.9t/ha.

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