This year has seen the earliest start to the UK grain harvest since 2006, according to the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB), with multiple reports of winter barley being cut in June.
There was a slight pause in combining following a band of heavy rainfall during the weekend of July 5-6. but the harvest has since picked up.
However, progress is highly variable, both within and between regions.
Out of farms surveyed across the UK, 10% of winter barely crops are reported to have been harvested.
While some oilseed rape has now been cut, no progress was reported by participants in this survey. Reports of yields in the earliest cut oilseed rape have been encouraging, though variable.
Due to the high temperatures forecast for the coming days, growers are warned to be mindful of temperature claims when going into stores to avoid incur cooling charges or having a load rejected because the temperature is greater than 25℃.
Harvest is expected to continue progressing well in the coming fortnight, with winter barley harvesting already complete for some farms.
There will now be a gap for many before winter wheat harvest commences, while some will move straight into harvesting oilseed rape.
Winter barley
Yields of winter barley have generally been reported as positive, despite the dry weather seen during the latter stage of crop development.
Reported UK yields range from 6.8-7.0t/ha, averaging at 6.9t/ha, which is up 2% on the five-year average.
However, these figures can be expected to change as more data is collected.
Initial specific weights in the eastern region of England are good and are as high as 70kg/hectolitre in some areas.
Additional information on grain quality will be made available over the coming days.
The island of Ireland
Harvesting winter barley in Ireland got underway in the south-east of the country at the very beginning of July. As anticipated, crops are yielding well – up to 10t/ha in places.
Dry matters are in the region of 15% with straw quality equally promising.
However, forecasted heavy rain showers may slow down the pace of combining over the coming days.
Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, the first winter crops of the season were cut in Co. Down at the tail end of last week.
Crops – six-row hybrids predominantly – were yielding just over 9t/ha with dry matters in the range 17-17.5%.
Straw quality is reported to be excellent.
Many growers are confirming the accelerated rate at which all cereal crops are now maturing.
