Across the country, intakes to stores are still down by between a third and a quarter, with mixed results on quality. As unsettled weather still hampering progress, growers are looking forward to the back of this harvest.

See also: How winter cover crops affect soil nitrogen supply

North Yorkshire

Starting in the North, intakes are down by a third and progress is difficult due to poor weather, says David Padgett, managing director at Argrain.

“In a normal season we would expect to take in 40,000-50,000t, but we’ll be looking at 25,000-30,000t,” he says.

Quality is generally fine, with 76kg/hl specific weight on feed wheat. “Proteins are low on malting barley, and high on milling wheat. There are some fairly chunky soft biscuit wheat premiums available if anyone has it – around £15/t premium.”

Lincolnshire

Heading slightly south, intake has been delayed by two weeks, although about 90% of predicted crops are now in store, according to Dan Murphy, operations manager at Woldgrain. “We have pretty much come to a complete stop,” he says.

“We’re into the last 5,000t now. We haven’t seen any beans yet, and we’re hearing they won’t be ready until October – it’s a very strung-out harvest.”

But quality is decent. “Spring barley has been good, with nitrogen contents among the lowest I’ve seen, at 1.2%, and specific weights more like wheat – up to 70kg/hl on some Planet and Laureate. Oilseed rape has been alright at 45-46% oil content, but the yields have been a disaster.”

Wheat specific weights have been good at 82-83kg/hl, even on the Group 4s, but protein has been very disappointing at under 9%.

And the struggle with ergot has been notable. “We have taken in 23,000t of wheat, and 57% has had ergot. It’s certainly more than I have ever seen before.”

It’s a similar story with the 25,500t of barley; 37% had ergot. “That’s as bad as I’ve ever seen it.”

Oilseed rape intake is much lower than usual at 1,800t. “We have only filled one small bin, which is 3,000t, and that’s only because we had some left from last year,” says Dan. “When I first started, we were taking in 16,000-17,000t.”

© Heather Ross

Hampshire 

Winter oats have been the crop of the year for Nick Rowsell at West Stoke Farm, Winchester.

The Mascani averaged 8t/ha compared to 7.8t/ha last year and, of the 225ha grown, 60ha have been grown as wholecrop and supplied to a local anaerobic digestor for the first time.

“The specific weights have only just made the cut, which normally would not be a problem,” says Nick. “I imagine it was the lack of sunshine in June and July.” 

The 301ha of winter wheat yielded below average, at 9.1t/ha compared to 9.3t/ha last year. 

“Crusoe was decimated with brown rust and achieved 6t/ha, bringing our overall average down,” he adds. “It was showing bad signs in April and we knew we were in trouble.”

But Skyfall and Zyatt achieved good specific weights at 74kg/hl and 76kg/hl respectively, and came off at 16% moisture.

The Aurelia oilseed rape looked better than it performed – but it still achieved the best yield in three years, averaging 3.5t/ha with an oil content of 46%.

The 310ha of Laureate spring barley is also complete, achieving between 5.4t/ha and 7t/ha. “Looking back to earlier in the year, when we had not sown a grain of spring crops, I am pretty pleased with the outcome, but glad to be starting again for 2025.”

The remaining spring oats will be cut next week. 

Somerset

Heading west, intake is down by a quarter at Cannington Grain, says store manager John Collins. “We have a 40,000t store, and we usually take in around 36,000t; this year we’ll be lucky to get 30,000t,” he says.

It’s a similar story for its Cornwall store, Kernow Grain, which has a 16,000t capacity, and usually receives 12,000-13,000t. It will likely take in 10,000t this year.

Quality has not been fantastic either, with milling wheat between 76kg/hl and 78kg/hl specific weight and 12.5% protein, while the oil content for oilseed rape is averaging 44%.

“A lot of our farmers are saying it will be a clean-up year – writing it off and trying again next year.”