FARMERS across the UK are continuing to report disappointing and highly variable harvest yields, with prolonged hot and dry weather affecting crops.
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s latest harvest progress report shows 85 per cent of the UK wheat crop had been cut by August 10, making it the fastest winter wheat harvest for more than 20 years.
However, average wheat yields are estimated at 6.7 tonnes per hectare, around 13 per cent below the five-year average.
The picture has not improved as combines have moved north into Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland, according to the report.
The update says rainfall has been limited since spring, leaving growers with very different outcomes depending on soil type, its ability to retain moisture, drilling dates, use of organic fertilisers, previous crops and seed variety.
Winter barley has largely escaped the national decline, with 98 per cent harvested and average yields of 6.8 tonnes per hectare, broadly in line with the five-year average.
But the report says there remains substantial variation between individual farms and regions.
Spring barley is facing a more difficult season. With 54 per cent of the crop harvested, average yields stand at 4.1 tonnes per hectare, about 26 per cent below the five-year average of 5.7 tonnes per hectare.
Oats are also performing poorly, with an estimated yield of 4.2 tonnes per hectare — 21 per cent below the five-year average.
The report says crop quality for spring barley and oats is too variable to give a meaningful national picture.
Oilseed rape is the exception. With 95 per cent harvested, the crop is averaging 3.9 tonnes per hectare, compared with a five-year average of 3.3 tonnes per hectare.
Helen Plant, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) senior cereals and oilseeds analyst, said crop moisture levels were higher further north, but yields had generally remained 'disappointing and highly variable'.
AHDB director of cereals and oilseeds Anthony Hopkins said hopes that yields would recover in less drought-affected areas had not been realised.
He said successive poor harvests would be placing 'immense financial pressure' on many arable businesses at a time when margins were already under strain.
Harvesting has slowed in parts of Scotland and northern England because of wetter weather, while AHDB expects to publish its next progress report on August 28.
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