UK harvest 13% complete – initial yields appear average

The variable weather conditions across the UK are dealing a mixed bag of fortunes for growers. For some, harvest has started in earnest whilst for others it has only just got underway. Heavy showers put a stop to harvesting attempts in the East over last weekend (10 and 11th August) but with favourable weather conditions into this week, it’s likely that much of the country will be able to get out into the fields to press on with harvest.

According to the latest ADAS and HGCA crop report, about 13% of the total combinable crop area in the UK has now been harvested. Although this is below average for the time of year, yields of oilseed rape and winter barley appear to be in line with the five year average=2E Many farmers are reporting crops looking better than expected, particularly with such a long, cold spring. However, they seem to have picked up and, on the whole, quality is reaching required specifications.

It’s never been as easy to keep up to date with what’s going on with this year’s harvest in your region as well as across the UK and abroad, here are some useful links:

• Farmers Weekly Harvest Highlights
• #Harvest2013 on twitter for up to the minute comments and pictures from farmers across the UK and beyond

For the third year in a row, Jake Freestone, a LEAF Demonstration Farmer on the Worcestershire/Gloucestershire border in the UK, has been uploading his harvest logs to YouTube. Make sure you take a look here to take a virtual look at a LEAF Demonstration Farm harvest.

Whatever stage you are with this year’s harvest, there’s lots of ways to keep abreast of what’s happening in your region as well as across the UK. Best of luck from us all at LEAF for a successful 2013 harvest!