As the UK harvest is winding down, initial reports appear to show that, while still lower than in 2010, grain crop yields are better than expected in the country. The severe and variable weather experienced throughout Europe this year has certainly taken its toll on UK crops, but with the wheat harvest 92 per cent complete, the general attitude seems to be that the country has had a lucky escape. image expired

A survey by analyst Offre & Demande Agricole (ODA) yesterday revealed UK wheat yields are an average of 3.4 per cent down on last year. The ODA survey, which covered 7 counties throughout England, also revealed the spring barley harvest is 96 per cent complete with yields 4.5 per cent below last year’s.

ODA concluded that, as quality remains high, English grains suffered only minimal damage from droughts in the spring and deluges in parts of the country during harvest time. In late July and early August North Yorkshire and Lincolnshire were particularly hard hit.

However, winter barley appears to have suffered, with yields around 13.4 per cent down on 2010 at 6.7 tonnes per hectare and only 49 per cent of samples meeting brewing requirements.

Yields remain high in 'dustbowl' West Midlands

Farmers in the West Midlands, parts of which are still suffering under drought conditions, said wheat yields in the region had nevertheless remained high, although some rain needs to fall in the coming weeks. One Shropshire agronomist said wheat yields had ranged from 7.9t/ha to 12.4 t/ha in the county.

Oliver Cartwright, spokesperson for NFU Shropshire, where farmers have reported "dustbowl" conditions, commented, "The harvest is well advanced in Shropshire with many farmers now finishing up. This year it has been a mixed bag with bumper crops of raspberries, strawberries and other soft fruit whereas winter barley and some vegetables have struggled a little."

"We had a late spring and a warm and wet summer, the record-breaking dry spell has left some areas parched but despite this Shropshire farmers have recorded higher crop yields than expected. Wheat, spring barley and winter oats appear to be up and now we are just waiting to see how the county has performed against the rest of the country."

European wheat faring worse

Elsewhere in Europe the German wheat harvest is also nearing completion, though it continues to be hampered by rain in the North of the country. The continued wet weather in Germany is thought to have affected quality and some crops will be downgraded to feed quality.

ODA’s latest survey in France, conducted in late August, showed French wheat yields were around 8 per cent down at 6.66 tonner per hectare, while barley was down 11 per cent at 5.7 t/ha.