GB harvest 23 off to a slow start: Grain market daily

• UK feed wheat futures (Nov-23) closed at £206.05/t yesterday, down £1.05/t from Wednesday’s close. The Nov-24 contract closed at £207.95/t, up £0.10/t over the same period.
• This season’s domestic wheat prices followed global wheat markets down yesterday. Prices fell on the back of an improved US production outlook for spring wheat, as well as beneficial rains in Argentina.
• Paris rapeseed futures (Nov-23) were down €5.50/t yesterday, ending the session at €470.00/t. The Nov-24 contract closed at €477.00/t, down €2.00/t over the same period.
• Rapeseed futures came down yesterday as pressure filtered through from the Chicago soyabean market. Recent forecasts of cooler August weather across the US Midwest are expected to favour the US soyabean crop.

Today, AHDB published the first harvest progress report of 2023, covering the beginning of harvest up to 25 July 2023 (week 3).

Recent wet weather has hindered the start of the 2023 harvest, with progress behind the five-year average. Having said this, windows of dry weather have enabled farmers to make a reasonable start to winter barley and oilseed rape harvests in the Midlands, Southern and Eastern regions of England.

Very small areas of winter wheat, spring barley and oats have been harvested in mostly southern regions, though data is very limited this early on (accounting for < 0.5%).

Winter barley

In total, 48% of the English, Welsh and Scottish barley harvest is complete, slightly behind the 5-year average pace (56% complete). It is also well behind the same point last year when hot and dry weather saw the harvest 93% complete by week 3. Harvest has begun in all regions of GB, ranging from 1% complete in the North East, to 83% complete in the South West.

Generally southern areas of England have reported above average yields. Whereas the Midlands are currently reporting average or just below average yields. Throughout GB, yields are ranging from 5.0 – 11.0 t/ha. Better yields have been reported on heavier soils, whereas lighter land suffered more from water stress during grain fill. Initial quality results are also good. Low screenings are being reported (between 2-5%), as well as specific weights between 63-66 kg/hl and grain nitrogen levels ranging from 1.50-1.85%.

Winter oilseed rape

In total, just 21% of the winter oilseed rape (WOSR) crop has been harvested across GB. Much like barley, this is below the 5-year average (37% complete), and well behind last year when the WOSR harvest was 68% complete. The WOSR harvest is the furthest ahead in the South West and the West Midlands at 61% and 35% complete respectively. However, in Scotland, Wales and the North East of England, harvest was only just starting or not yet underway.

Yields so far are variable, ranging from 1.0 – 4.9 t/ha, and averaging 3.0 t/ha. Lower yields are a result of storm damage (causing heavy shedding), as well as pest and frost damage earlier in the season. Oil content is currently ranging between 42 – 26%, while moisture contents is ranging from 7-12%. Though this will likely change on increased data availability.

For the full GB harvest update, read the full report here. 

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