This last week saw combines emerge from hibernation as the first crops of winter barley in this area have been harvested. This is about three weeks later than usual and the barley will then be followed by winter oilseed rape and winter wheat although the harvest of the latter still looks several weeks off.
Further, harvest is likely to be prolonged this year because a lot more spring crops have been sown as compared to most years. This was because of the very wet conditions last year which prevented farmers getting on the land last autumn. These spring sown crops will generally be harvested after all the winter sown crops, meaning that it is likely there will be plenty of crops still to be harvested well in to September this year.
This prolonged and late harvest will pose difficulties for next year because farmers will struggle to get next year’s crops sown early this autumn which will affect next year’s yield. This is particularly important for crops such as oilseed rape where yields will be significantly affected if sowing is delayed much beyond the end of September.
Thus, it is unfortunate that just as crops have started to come “fit” for harvest, that the prolonged spell of hot weather has broken down. This is not necessarily catastrophic because many farmers would like to see a little rain to keep the grass growing and to prevent the premature die back of some crops on lighter land.
However, no one wants the weather to breakdown completely just as harvest gets in to full swing because the added hassle of a “start stop” harvest and the additional cost of drying crops is the last thing arable farmers need to see after a very difficult twelve months.
As far as yields are concerned it is too early to judge how good this year’s crops will perform although early signs are that that winter barley which has been harvested has performed reasonably well although crop prices have eased back in recent weeks.
Barley is trading at around £138/tonne, wheat at just under £160/tonne while oilseed rape is trading at £290/tonne which is approximately £80/tonne less than it was trading at this time last year. Having said that, many livestock farmers will not be mourning lower arable prices because this should reduce the cost of supplementary feedstuffs. This will be particularly welcome to dairy farmers in this area, thereby demonstrating the diametrically opposite affects that arable prices can have on different sectors of the farming industry.
James Stephen MRICS FAAV
Partner
Rural Practice Chartered Surveyor, Wells
T: 01749 683381
E: james.stephen@carterjonas.co.uk
Further, harvest is likely to be prolonged this year because a lot more spring crops have been sown as compared to most years. This was because of the very wet conditions last year which prevented farmers getting on the land last autumn. These spring sown crops will generally be harvested after all the winter sown crops, meaning that it is likely there will be plenty of crops still to be harvested well in to September this year.
This prolonged and late harvest will pose difficulties for next year because farmers will struggle to get next year’s crops sown early this autumn which will affect next year’s yield. This is particularly important for crops such as oilseed rape where yields will be significantly affected if sowing is delayed much beyond the end of September.
Thus, it is unfortunate that just as crops have started to come “fit” for harvest, that the prolonged spell of hot weather has broken down. This is not necessarily catastrophic because many farmers would like to see a little rain to keep the grass growing and to prevent the premature die back of some crops on lighter land.
However, no one wants the weather to breakdown completely just as harvest gets in to full swing because the added hassle of a “start stop” harvest and the additional cost of drying crops is the last thing arable farmers need to see after a very difficult twelve months.
As far as yields are concerned it is too early to judge how good this year’s crops will perform although early signs are that that winter barley which has been harvested has performed reasonably well although crop prices have eased back in recent weeks.
Barley is trading at around £138/tonne, wheat at just under £160/tonne while oilseed rape is trading at £290/tonne which is approximately £80/tonne less than it was trading at this time last year. Having said that, many livestock farmers will not be mourning lower arable prices because this should reduce the cost of supplementary feedstuffs. This will be particularly welcome to dairy farmers in this area, thereby demonstrating the diametrically opposite affects that arable prices can have on different sectors of the farming industry.
James Stephen MRICS FAAV
Partner
Rural Practice Chartered Surveyor, Wells
T: 01749 683381
E: james.stephen@carterjonas.co.uk
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