Wind and rain continue to take their toll on crops awaiting harvest.

The poor harvest weather has prevented any meaningful amount of harvesting from taking place over the past two weeks.

Small amounts were cut from Saturday to Monday in very variable conditions, with growers frantically racing to harvest as much as possible ahead of Storm Francis, often at high moistures.

While many yielded quite well, crop conditions are deteriorating, turning what was potentially a good harvest in parts of the south into a salvage operation. With the harvest only half over, a spell of settled weather is badly needed.

Tough harvest conditions

On Thursday last, storm Ellen brought high winds and heavy rain, particularly in the south. Crops there were severely tossed and broken down, with head losses and grain shedding.

On Tuesday, storm Francis repeated the dose. Many spring barley, spring oats and winter wheat crops are blackening, with sprouting, head loss and fusarium.

Little straw has been baled in a fortnight

It seems inevitable that this broken weather will lead to some drop-off in yield and quality, so it helps that quality was excellent to begin with.

Malting barley is variable, with acceptance rates still good in the south, but as low as 30% across the east and southeast.

Little straw has been baled in a fortnight. Ground conditions are challenging, following all the rain.

With crop yields down and grain prices uncertain, better weather will be critical to help prevent this harvest from turning into a disaster.