The latest HGCA and ADAS harvest report reveals slow progress, as harvesting has been affected by rain. Frequent and often heavy rain showers limited the available harvesting days to just 2-3 across most of the country and only around 250,000 ha were harvested, less than half the week 7 average. image expired

The North East and Yorkshire received the heaviest rains and here cool conditions for the time of year affected crops’ ability to dry out. The review reveals crops harvested were often cut at high moistures; 18-20 per cent moistures were reported where drying facilities were available in order to avoid any quality deterioration.

Despite these delays, overall harvest progress marginally ahead of recent years, except in Scotland where the harvest is later and slower than average. In the UK, 75 per cent of the total combinable crop area is now harvested. HGCA said, of the remaining 1 Mha, around half is wheat and one third spring barley, with the majority in the northern regions and Scotland.

Wheat

The area harvested, just over 75 per cent UK area, has delivered yields averaging 7.5-7.7 tonnes per hectare, just below the UK 5 year average. Wheat on light land in the East suffered most from the dry spring, though yields have been variable. Almost half of the wheat yet to harvest is in Yorkshire, Humber and Scotland.

HGCA said there is some evidence that the quality of any remaining milling wheat is starting to drop, with average Hagberg falling numbers down slightly to 270-280 seconds. Protein and specific weights are holding at 12-13 per cent and 78-80 kg/hl respectively.

Winter barley

The winter barley harvest is now complete. The estimated UK average yield for winter barley is 6.0-6.2 t/ha, about 5 per cent down on the 5 year average, though yields varied dramatically, ranging from 2 to 11 t/ha.

Many malting samples have slightly high nitrogen contents, particularly those from light land where yields were lower. Levels range between 1.4 and 2.0 per cent. Specific weights have remained high at 66-69 kg/hl.

Spring barley

The spring barley harvest has progressed slowly over the past week, with 55 per cent of the UK area now harvested. The Scottish harvest is only 25 per cent complete, although overall progress remains ahead of previous years, as the English and Welsh harvests are 75 per cent complete.

Due to the effects of the spring drought, drilling time and soil time have had a marked effect on yield. The estimated UK average yield is 5.1-5.3 t/ha, though yields range from 2 t/ha to 7.8 t/ha. The estimated yield is currently below average, although HGCA sad that, with so much of the Scottish crop yet to harvest, this could change.

Scottish samples are so far of good quality, with grain nitrogen contents of 1.4-1.5 per cent, compared to an average of 1.7-1.9 per cent for English crops.

oilseed rape

The winter oilseed rape harvest is also complete. The average yield is estimated to be 3.5-3.8 t/ha, though many farms have yields in excess of 4 t/ha. Overall the yield is slightly above average, and oil contents are good, typically at 44-46 per cent.

The spring oilseed rape harvest is 20 per cent complete. Harvesting has begun in the East, with yields averaging in the region of 2 t/ha.