The Agricultural and Horticultural and Development Board (AHDB) has confirmed that the UK’s 2024 grain and oilseeds harvest is now complete.
The winter barley harvest was the second quickest in the past five years, behind only 2022. It was completed during the week ending August 21.
The final estimate of yield is 6.13t/ha, a 13% decline on the five-year average figure across the UK. There was significant deviation in yields between regions.
Winter malting barley quality is reported to be good, although there have been some lower bushel weights and subsequently lower screenings, merchants report that the crop is very usable for the domestic market.
Nitrogen (N) levels within UK winter malting barley have averaged 1.5%, with a range of 1.3% to 1.6%.
Grain and oilseeds
Where winter oilseed rape is concerned, yields are down 7.7% across the UK, at an average of 2.97t/ha. These declines are not entirely due to pest pressure – clubroot has been an issue in some locations.
The average oil content of 2024 winter oilseed rape crops in the UK is reported to be 45%, with very few samples below 44%.
Moisture levels for oilseed rape varied from 6.7% in the east to 10% in the south-east. One challenge for oilseed rape as harvest progressed was ensuring the crop cooled sufficiently.
Meanwhile, oat yields have been variable across the UK, and also between winter and spring oats. On average, the oat yield is down 3%, at 5.28 t/ha.
Significantly, the quality of both winter and spring oats was good: most samples are of milling specification.
Weather conditions were favourable during much of the 2024 wheat harvest with 88% cut by August 28. This was well ahead of the five-year average of 60% complete at that stage.
Yields were down 7.3% on the five-year average, coming in 7.5t/ha. Yield variability has been a significant challenge in 2024.
Some UK growers have managed to produce high yields given the circumstances. However, a significant number have seen significant drops in wheat output, year-on-year.
The UK average spring barley yield is estimated at 5.7t/ha – a 3.4% decline on the five-year average. Significantly, malting barley samples submitted so far have been particularly good.
Straw yields ranging from 3.5-4.5t/ha have been quoted by some growers in the UK. Despite the patchy grain harvest, there is plenty of straw available at the present time.
This has been reflected in the downward trend in prices, recorded over recent days.
