UK: Dry weather sees rapid progress with winter barley harvest

Dry weather has seen rapid progress with the winter barley harvest, with more than 69% already complete in England, Wales and Scotland, the Farmers’ Weekly reported on July 22.

This is according to the first AHDB Harvest Progress Report based on data collated by Adas, which points out that the next earliest winter barley harvest was back in 2006.

Looking at the regional level, harvest has started in all areas, with progress ranging from 20% complete in the North West to more than 90% complete in the South West and Eastern regions.

The report also estimates that 28% of the British winter oilseed rape area had been harvested up to 19 July, which is slightly ahead of recent years.

Cutting in the South and East ranges from 50-75% complete while in the West Midlands and further north, harvest is only just starting or not yet under way.

Early barley yield indications are good, with yields from the South trending slightly above the five-year average. The current yield estimate for winter barley is 6.8-7.2t/ha, which is mainly based on data from the South and East of England.

Key results are:

Early yields reported have ranged from 5-9.5t/ha (at below average moisture).

The better yields that have been reported are from heavier land, and the lower yields from light land that suffered water stress during grain fill.

Specific weights are currently coming in relatively high, at 66-70kg/hl.

With hot and dry conditions, very little grain drying has been required, as grain moistures are averaging between 13% and 14%.

22 July, 2022