Combines have cleared about half the wheat over southern England, and yields appear to be struggling.

Grain trader Nick Mathew of Bartholomew’s, Chichester, West Sussex expected output to be lower across the board.

Wheat yields were very variable and looked to be 5-10% lower than average.
But he said crops had good bushel weights, good Hagbergs and proteins of about 13%.

Prices today stood at £142/t for feed wheat and £162/t for milling wheat, though he said prices were rising continually.

Mr Mathew who operated along the coast from Somerset to Kent, said all of the feed barley and oilseed rape were in.
As were about 70% of spring barley, 30% of Oats and half the wheat.

Mr Mathew said early spring barley had low proteins and low specific weight. However it had germinated well with Optic retaining 85% and Tipple with 90%.

Oats were discoloured, with specific weights ranging from 44-52 kg/hl. Mr Mathew expected the crop to be finished by the end of this weekend.

Overall Mr Mathew expected harvest to finish a lot earlier than normal. “It’s progressing very rapidly,” he said.

*Harvest Highlights 2007 is sponsored by RAGT