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Despite the showers in some areas last week, good progress was made with harvest 2018 over the weekend. The winter wheat harvest has progressed well and many growers in the south are now complete.
Average yields were back, as are straw yields, but quality and moistures have been reported as good.
As we are now into the main spring barley crop harvest in many areas, a settled week of weather would have the bulk of the harvest finished in those areas.
The early spring barley yields were reported as low, with high screenings and proteins. However, as the harvest progressed, these reports improved.
But, as of now, as some of the latest sown crops are harvested, these reports have deteriorated once again.
Winter wheat
Many early winter wheat yields were between 3.0t and 3.5t/ac, but higher yields are now being reported as the harvest progresses.
Winter wheat has now largely been completed in the south and good progress has been made in the east and northeast over the past week. Yields range between 3.0t and 4.0t/ac with rotation playing a significant role in performance this year. However, quality is reported to be good, with specific weights of between 75 and 80+ KPH reported.
Straw yields are somewhat mixed, but the consensus is that they are back on last year, ranging from eight to 13 4x4 round bales/acre.
Spring barley
Spring barley yields are largely as expected, with most growers back 1.0t to 1.5t/ac in yield. The best of the yield reports so far range from 3.0t to 3.2t/ac.
However, average yields appear to be closer to 2.0t to 2.4t/ac, with the poorest performing crops coming in at around 1.2t to 1.5t/ac. Spring barley yields this year have generally been very mixed, as growers have reported yield improving as the harvest goes on, while others have reported yields decreasing.
Reports of proteins also remain mixed, as initial crops were reported as high, then proteins decreased as yields improved.
However, as yields decrease due to poorer crops being harvested, proteins are once again increasing, with many reports of proteins coming in above 12%.
Reports of screenings are ranging from 2.5% to 12%. Specific weights range from 62 to 70KPH, with average moistures between 8% and 16%. Straw yields are equally as mixed, with reports of between four and 12 4x4 bales to the acre.
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