Harvest Murmurings

Thoughts from an FTA member on the earliest harvest since '76.

The earliest start to any harvest I can ever remember is all but complete. Stragglers of spring wheat and spring barley remain to be cut, but I can safely say I have never seen empty fields so early in August. On one hand I am pleased we have got the majority of crops in, seen the back of another season and can crack on with the next, but in the other hand I am concerned for the lack of crop in store, not just with us but throughout the country.

Quality is of a mixed bag; crops that suffered in the Autumn (that's if you were lucky enough to get them planted) have suffered with low specific weights and that's before the yields of the crop. We have found normal fields that would yield 4 tonne to the acre sown with wheat have struggled to do 2 tonnes.

In our part of the world (Buckinghamshire/Oxfordshire border) the wet Autumn led to thinking outside of the box to get crops in and established. The seed drills that have spent years in the nettles and looking unloved were dragged out to plant crops into some challenging conditions. The crops though never seemed to get up and go properly throughout the year and flourish like they usually would. Further rain and flooding meant mauled headlands became desolate.

We ploughed some fields in Autumn ready for winter wheat, which never got planted. Our arm was forced into spring wheat in these fields; after months of rain we managed to get the spring crops in and as soon as the drill left the field, the weather gods changed their tune and I think we could count on the one hand the days of rain we have had since!! Being on heavy clay soil the spring wheat got planted later than we would have liked, but it did mean it retained some moisture in the ground for the dry period that came after. Seeing the spring crop now prior to harvesting, it doesn't fill me with much hope and potential with the crop, but at least it is something.

I think the early harvest was a blessing for some farmers so they could clear the fields of barren headlands and thin areas, to the neighbour's prying eyes. However, it is not all doom and gloom. Some areas of the country have reported good yields and super quality. For farmers with a lot of acreage, the consistent good warm weather has meant that they could keep going and have a good run with it, some earlier day time starts than usual and it has not be the chase you get in some unpredictable seasons.

The lack of rain has meant that straw has also been a disaster. Farmers have been reporting 2 large bales to the acre as the norm this year around here. I do really feel for the livestock guys crying out for more bedding, couple that up with the lack of this years crop for livestock and the fact they have had to be doing additional feeding due to little grass.

Looking forward and trying to be positive....... The ground we have got moved is tough, hard and very dry. We are hoping to plant some Oilseed Rape this year, to bring back into the rotation to help our lack of break crops. The ground we have prepped will require a monsoon on it, prior to planting to manage the clods of soil. Lets keep our fingers crossed for some rain.. Looking at the weather forecasts it doesn't look likely but when are they 100% accurate?!. A positive from the dry is that there doesn't seem to be the grain ergot in wheat like there has been for the last few years, so that is one less claim we need to worry about.

I don't want this to come across all a bit doom and gloom, we farmers are forever optimists otherwise we wouldn't do it. Which other sector would gamble planting a crop at least 12 months prior to having to sell it, with the weather being so unpredictable and not knowing any future sale prices... At least in a casino it's a quick result either way!

I am going to finish off my debut blog by giving you something to smile about in the form of a joke. Please finish reading here if you are easily offended!

Three prostitutes were discussing their previous nights customers.

The first said 'I had a policeman, he tied me up with his handcuffs and had his wicked way with his truncheon'.

The second said 'Oh that's nothing, I had a fireman. He was big and strong and whisked me off his feet with his impressive hose'.

The third goes 'Oh, I had a farmer. All he did was complain?!, First it was too dry, then too wet and finally too expensive'

Please leave a comment below, let us know what quality and yields where like in your area. Harvest Murmurings

Written by Derek Pearce

Published by FTA.