Despite some very heavy, localised showers of rain over the past couple of weeks, there haven’t been any reports of crops having suffered any repercussions. Winter barley would be the most vulnerable at this stage with grain-fill quite advanced and reports of quite large headed crops. However, apart from some small areas in fields looking a bit twisted, there doesn’t appear to be any major concerns about having flat barley fields to harvest at present.
The barley has started to ripen with many fields seeing colour changes and the heads beginning to turn over.
If the weather stays favourable it is likely there will be winter barley harvested in the Borders/North Northumberland area during 3rd week July.
Wheat and spring barley are also fully headed with most wheat crops past flowering and beginning to set seed. The reported potential for most crops is still looking better than normal with generally nice even colour and stages of maturity combining with the good plant count and plenty of grain sites/plant.
Markets have been trading in quite narrow variations over the past month with support strength still coming from the poor sowing conditions experienced by the corn growing belts in USA and the more limiting factors being the potential of the wheat crops in both Western and Eastern Europe. Wheat futures have traded fairly consistently between £151 and £156 for a few weeks now and, until more accurate outcomes of both these situations are known, the market is likely to continue trading along similar, relatively quiet lines.
The same scenario is true regarding barley pricing which is waiting for more harvesting results to filter through before a more established view can be taken on where the market gets set.
If you have any questions about the trends, we've seen in grain growth, yield and quality this month, or if you'd like to know how Silvery Tweed can help you with your cereal needs, contact our sales director Mark Jackson on 01289 307419.