Early harvest updates from around the UK and Ireland
17th July 2024
Farmers from around the UK and Ireland have been making a start on harvest 2024. Here are some insights from Farmers Guide readers.
West Norfolk
Dan Iles, assistant farm manager for Albanwise Farming in West Norfolk, farms across 3,000ha, growing winter wheat, winter barley, spring barley, oilseed rape, sugar beet, grain maize, forage maize, vining peas as well as sunflowers. He has just begun harvesting winter barley.
Mr Iles commented: “Harvest 2024 has briefly started for us, with our new New Holland CR10.90 and 45ft Macdon FD2 making a good impression in the 5ha of Buccaneer winter barley that we managed to cut before the rain came back.
“Moisture was at 15.7%, and an initial yield indicating 8.56t/ha is pleasing in light of the dull wet weather this crop has been through.”
Lancashire
Farmer Olly Harrison of Water Lane Farm in Prescot said that he managed to cut only 0.7% of his barley due to catchy weather, with moisture levels at 20% on Monday (15th July).
He added: “Normally, on the first day of harvest, I would be so excited to get the combine out, and this year I am just not because I know yields won’t be that good.
“We haven’t had the right weather for the last 12 months. I know I’m going to be disappointed with every field that we go in – but nonetheless we’ve got a lot to get through, we’ll get started and we’ll see what’s happening.”
Hertfordshire
Eveey Hunter from Hertfordshire has begun harvesting 130ha of Acacia OSR, which was drilled in July 2023 with a Horsch Avatar. The average yield so far is 3.3t/ha.
Ms Hunter has also harvested 75ha of Valerie winter barley, which was drilled in October 2023 with a Väderstad Rapid. The average yield is 6.6t/ha.
The Hertfordshire farmer added that she has been using a new combine this year, a John Deere X9 1100.
READ MORE: Cambridgeshire farmer is one of first to start harvesting OSR
Lincolnshire
Emily Thompson from a farm in Lincolnshire said: “We are currently vining peas for The Green Pea Company in North Lincolnshire, although a late and steady start to the season with lower than normal temperatures and higher rainfall for June/July has meant a delay in the peas reaching full maturity.
“Usually by now we are halfway through our harvest; however, this year we are only 20% through.
“Cereal harvest in the area is currently on hold due to the recent rainfall, which saw 20mm fall in just one day!
“This time last year, the combines were rolling in our area; however, many farmers haven’t even sprayed off their crops yet in hopes the weather turns soon so they can get going.”
Oxfordshire
A representative from Crowmarsh Battle Farms in Oxfordshire said: “We made a start on Thursday last week and managed to get about 110ha of OSR cut before the rain on Monday.
“Moisture content has been fine, and yields have been acceptable. We’re starting on the final 40ha of OSR today before moving on to barley in a few days.”
Ireland
With unsettled weather in July, Bryan Kearney and the team at Eurofins began harvesting winter barley trials on 16th July on fields in Co. Kildare, Ireland.
The farmer added that despite the difficult season to date, he and the team remain optimistic, with encouraging yields and grain quality at the start of their harvest.
Send us your harvest 2024 comments, photos and videos to editorial@farmersguide.co.uk.
