Farmers share insights of successful but stressful 2024 harvest season
27th August 2024
Harvest 2024 was undeniably an interesting but also challenging time for UK farmers. For some of them, like Cambridgeshire farmer Stephen Briggs, harvest had to be put on hold due to equipment theft, but others call the season very “straightforward”.
The winter barley harvest across the UK was largely completed (99%) by 7th August, with most of the remaining crop cut last week. A small proportion remains to be cut in Northern Ireland.
The UK winter oilseed rape (WOSR) harvest was nearing completion, with 93% harvested by 15th August. The remaining areas were in the west and north of England and in Scotland.
UK farmers have shared their insights into the 2024 harvest season with Farmers Guide.
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire farmer Stephen Briggs of Whitehall Farm said that this year’s harvest yields on his farm were about 12-15% down, however, he is happy with the good quality of the crops and bushel weights.
He added: “We were able to cut at 11.5-12% moisture, so an easy harvest helped by prolonged dry weather for harvesting.
“Whole harvest progressed well but soured by being broken into and JCB loader stolen from locked grain store and used to steal cash point machine. This added stress and strife at a stressful time of year.”
Harvest nearing completion – yesterday locked grain store broken into overnight, loader stolen and used to steal cash machine from supermarket. Whole heap of damage & stress. 😞 pic.twitter.com/WvopWoh8nT
— Steve Briggs (@Farm3Dwithtrees) August 20, 2024
CCTV was disabled, the battery isolator bypassed and a seat cover removed from the machine in a bid to remove DNA evidence.
The organised criminals brought their own keys and used the loader to smash open the triple locked roller shutter doors.
Exiting the farm, they even managed to evade a secure gate by driving over a neighbour’s wheat field, damaging the crop to get the loader out.
The machine was subsequently used to steal a cash machine at a local Spar post office.
#harvest24 progress in the #agroforestry @harvestbarnshop pic.twitter.com/r7aamWIvOB
— Steve Briggs (@Farm3Dwithtrees) August 13, 2024
Norfolk
Assistant Farm Manager at Albanwise Farming, Dan Iles, described harvest 2024 as “pretty successful”.
He said: “Starting on the 15th of July, we are nearly finished now on the 22nd August, with a few fields of spring barley left to cut.
“The weather has been very kind to us with only one or two afternoons where rain has stopped us going.
“Our average wheat yield this year has hit 10.27t/ha, which we are very pleased with – beating our five-year average of 8.85t/ha.
“Grain quality also looks good – grains are all big and bold with no issues with ergot, etc.”
Mr Iles added that almost all wheat straw has been chopped, with most barley straw being baled for local pig units.
He confirmed that straw quality and quantity have both been good, with some large straw swaths produced this year.
READ MORE: Farmers share “harvest rollercoaster” updates
Norfolk and Cambs border
Patrick Clabon of H G Bliss Farms near Upwell, said that this year’s harvest was “straightforward”.
“Yields were 15% down at an average of 9 tonnes per hectare. The quality was fairly good, with high protein and hagberg.
“Moisture was all below 15%. Straw yields were good, and 30% baled. Ergot levels were low, so fingers crossed.”
READ MORE: Cambridgeshire farmer explains how his nature-friendly approach helps boost yields
READ MORE: ‘Combines are out’: UK farmers share harvest update
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