Harvest is quickly progressing across the nation as Britain endures the most well liked week on file.
Regardless of moisture issues, oilseed rape is producing good oil content material and barley is excelling, with good yields and excessive particular weights.
Lincolnshire
At WoldGrain close to Gainsborough, 4,000t of winter barley has been taken in and simply 150t of oilseed rape. “It’s simply per week, if not 10 days, sooner than any harvest I’ve ever recognized right here,” says Dan Murphy, lab and haulage supervisor.
See additionally: A information to catch cropping earlier than autumn cereals
Thus far, oilseed rape has achieved a excessive oil content material of 46%. “We’re anticipating one other 7,000t of oilseed rape to come back.”
As for the barley, 400t of Craft winter malting barley got here in at 11.9% moisture, with low nitrogen of 1.63% and a really excessive particular weight of 72kg/hl, says Mr Murphy.
Regardless of the dry climate, some have discovered moisture within the crop. “Whether or not it’s barley that isn’t fairly match or it’s the place the tramlines or headlands are.”
Slicing Pearl winter barley for Simpsons Malt in Berwickshire SE Scotland – photograph submitted by Neil White
Cambridgeshire
Close to Linton, a begin on wheat is anticipated this week, based on Philip Darke, operations director at CamGrain.
“Oilseed rape may be very dry, with moisture at 4%, and since the crop is at 30C, it wants some cooling followers on it,” he says.
A small quantity of wheat has been seen with good high quality and no points to date, with protein averaging 13% and 79kg/hl particular weight.
Having acquired 15,000-20,000t of feed barley, high quality has been variable, however it has been a daring pattern.
Kent
Weald Granary close to Maidstone has taken in 5,000t of winter barley and oilseed rape, per week sooner than common.
The agency has additionally acquired a small quantity of Skyfall wheat at 14% moisture – early indicators counsel a excessive particular weight at 81.5kg/hl, low protein at 11.7% and 330 Hagberg.
“That implies that yields are most likely fairly good with the upper particular weight – however it dilutes the protein, which is unfold over a bigger crop,” says John Smith, director and retailer supervisor.
“There isn’t any ergot, which is a change from final 12 months, after we had excessive protein, however low particular weight and ergot due to the damp rising season.”
The two,000t of oilseed rape have an unusually excessive oil content material, says Mr Smith. “Some oilseed rape has been 47-48% which is 2% increased than common.”
Mr Smith is anticipating some Extase wheat to come back in on 19 July.
Barley harvest in Chelmondiston, Suffolk – photograph submitted by Jeff Welch
Cornwall
Within the South, 242ha of Funky winter barley has been lower on Treleathick Farm, close to Liskeard. The standard was pleasing at 70kg/hl and 13.5% moisture.
“The yield has been between 5.9t/ha and 6.6t/ha – so it has been lighter on yield, however that doesn’t account for the bushel,” says Richard Tamblin.
However the straw high quality has been promising. “It’s the very best quality we’ve ever had and the yield is 2.4t/ha – demand can be fairly sturdy in the mean time.”
He has about 28ha of Funky left earlier than making a begin on 40ha Graham winter wheat.
“The continual wheat is wanting very unhappy, in contrast with final 12 months after we couldn’t inform aside our steady wheat and first wheat. This 12 months is a very totally different story – if we do 4.9t/ha we could have accomplished effectively,” he says.
“It was put right into a free seed-bed within the autumn. I believe we must always have rolled it in, so I believe it suffered from that after which let the take-all get a foothold.”
Nonetheless, the 40ha of first wheat Extase is wanting good. And he expects to maneuver on to the winter wheat in 10 days, which he hopes to begin desiccating on 19 July.
With the recent, dry climate he has been blowing down the mix every single day. “We’ve been fearful concerning the fireplace threat, which you don’t usually get within the South West.”
Richard Tamblin’s winter barley harvest © Richard Tamblin
