Farmers dodge rain and keep 15% of wheat harvest

Farmers have dodged the showery weather to reap 15 per cent of the UK wheat harvest, and despite significant drying requirements in the north, the yield has been of good quality.

In Thursday August 12th weekly harvest report, leading agricultural and environmental consultancy ADAS, which compiles the document for HGCA, said progress is very typical and there have been no major issues. However the weather in the next few weeks will affect the outcome and success of harvesting.

James Clarke, head of sustainable crop management at ADAS, said that despite the weather, the quality of the harvest was generally good across all crops, including wheat, barley, oats and oilseed rape.

He said: "This is the first big week of the wheat harvest and showery weather has been a factor in gathering the crop in – especially in the North.

"Eighty five per cent of the wheat crop is still to be harvested – mostly with in the next three to five weeks, so what the weather does from now on will be crucial for the speed of the harvest and quality expectations".

Met Office forecasts suggest weather across the UK will remain changeable, with frequent showers and stormy conditions over the next few days.

Mr Clarke added: "With global wheat prices spiking, attention is focused on what the home-grown wheat harvest will be like. So far so good, but it is from now onwards that we will need to see how rain affects progress and quality."

Meanwhile, 85 per cent of both the oilseed rape and winter barley harvest had been collected across the country. Barley yields are reportedly below average, although quality is good. Oilseed rape yields are above the five year average although there is significant regional variation.

ADAS compiles seven day harvest reports throughout the season for HGCA and Defra.