The most recent UK crop replace from the Agricultural and Horticultural Growth Board (AHDB) paints a really downbeat perspective concerning the harvest prospects for 2024/25.
The knowledge within the crop replace was captured as much as Tuesday, March 26, 2024 for AHDB by The Andersons Centre.
It confirms that the UK has skilled the second wettest August by February since 1837, since information started.
The worst situations have been within the east midlands and neighbouring areas of the west midlands, east, and Yorkshire and the Humber.
Situations have been poorer than typical in most components of England, together with the south-west, though for a lot of, not as excessive because the midlands.
The climate in Scotland has diminished winter cropping, however by lower than central England, as situations haven’t been so uncommon.
In response to AHDB, area work is now going down on lighter, higher draining soils and drier areas, and these farmers are actually making headway with spring drilling and crop therapies.
For some farms, area work remains to be not attainable, and a few efforts have broken tramlines or soil construction.
Some growers might be making massive fertiliser purposes because the crops are hungry, and first nitrogen (N) purposes are later than typical.
It’s now envisaged that the UK’s 2024 harvest will comprise a decrease than typical winter space, with significantly decrease winter crop yields.
As well as, the spring planted space is prone to be larger than regular, however it’s too early to say with confidence on areas or yield potential.
There’s all the time appreciable variation in yield and high quality, however this issue is predicted to be amplified in 2024.
The nationwide situation of wheat is significantly poorer than typical, with simply 34% of the GB winter wheat crop rated as in a great or wonderful situation.
On the finish of March 2023, 90% of the crop was rated good or wonderful.
At this stage of spring 2024, the UK could not have skilled such a poor trying crop in dwelling reminiscence.
In response to the AHDB crop replace, winter barley established higher than most winter wheat, however is much less resilient at overwintered stresses.
Simply 38% of GB winter barley is rated as in a great or wonderful situation, whereas one yr in the past 92% of it was rated good or wonderful.
Winter oats have fared higher than most winter crops. Oats are a powerful and resilient crop with a large planting window and plenty of managed to determine higher than different cereals within the lower than best soil situations.
Even now, there are some winter oats but to drill. Whereas winter oat situations are higher than different winter crops, nonetheless solely 37% of the GB crop is rated nearly as good or wonderful, and far decrease than on the finish of March 2023 (83%).
Winter oilseed rape (OSR) established higher than most winter wheat, having had extra time to develop earlier than the autumn rain.
Nonetheless, after sitting in water for therefore lengthy, many crops died and there are some very naked patches within the Midlands notably.
Total, solely 31% of the GB winter oilseed rape crop is rated as in good or wonderful situation. That is nicely beneath the 70% rated good-excellent on the finish of March 2023 and 64% on the similar level in 2022.
The knowledge within the crop replace was captured as much as Tuesday, March 26, 2024 for AHDB by The Andersons Centre.
It confirms that the UK has skilled the second wettest August by February since 1837, since information started.
The worst situations have been within the east midlands and neighbouring areas of the west midlands, east, and Yorkshire and the Humber.
Situations have been poorer than typical in most components of England, together with the south-west, though for a lot of, not as excessive because the midlands.
The climate in Scotland has diminished winter cropping, however by lower than central England, as situations haven’t been so uncommon.
In response to AHDB, area work is now going down on lighter, higher draining soils and drier areas, and these farmers are actually making headway with spring drilling and crop therapies.
For some farms, area work remains to be not attainable, and a few efforts have broken tramlines or soil construction.
Some growers might be making massive fertiliser purposes because the crops are hungry, and first nitrogen (N) purposes are later than typical.
It’s now envisaged that the UK’s 2024 harvest will comprise a decrease than typical winter space, with significantly decrease winter crop yields.
As well as, the spring planted space is prone to be larger than regular, however it’s too early to say with confidence on areas or yield potential.
There’s all the time appreciable variation in yield and high quality, however this issue is predicted to be amplified in 2024.
Winter wheat
The nationwide situation of wheat is significantly poorer than typical, with simply 34% of the GB winter wheat crop rated as in a great or wonderful situation.
On the finish of March 2023, 90% of the crop was rated good or wonderful.
At this stage of spring 2024, the UK could not have skilled such a poor trying crop in dwelling reminiscence.
Winter barley
In response to the AHDB crop replace, winter barley established higher than most winter wheat, however is much less resilient at overwintered stresses.
Simply 38% of GB winter barley is rated as in a great or wonderful situation, whereas one yr in the past 92% of it was rated good or wonderful.
Winter oats
Winter oats have fared higher than most winter crops. Oats are a powerful and resilient crop with a large planting window and plenty of managed to determine higher than different cereals within the lower than best soil situations.
Even now, there are some winter oats but to drill. Whereas winter oat situations are higher than different winter crops, nonetheless solely 37% of the GB crop is rated nearly as good or wonderful, and far decrease than on the finish of March 2023 (83%).
Winter oilseed rape
Winter oilseed rape (OSR) established higher than most winter wheat, having had extra time to develop earlier than the autumn rain.
Nonetheless, after sitting in water for therefore lengthy, many crops died and there are some very naked patches within the Midlands notably.
Total, solely 31% of the GB winter oilseed rape crop is rated as in good or wonderful situation. That is nicely beneath the 70% rated good-excellent on the finish of March 2023 and 64% on the similar level in 2022.