A large part of the winter wheat harvest came in smoothly last week. Especially in the southwest, almost half of the country is already covered. In the middle of the Netherlands the pace is a bit slower and the north has almost yet to start. Arable farmers are surprised about the harvest time. Yield and quality indications remain good.
According to the harvest update of the cooperative CZAV, the counter in their working area, Southwest Netherlands, stands at 45 percent to date. A considerable volume has already been received, especially in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen and on the Zeeland islands. Arable farmers and contractors have also been threshing at full capacity on the South Holland Islands.
Major regional differences
The harvest started early and went smoothly, but it is not a record. In 2018, more than half of all wheat had already been received on this date and the majority of the wheat harvest be completed this week. The regional differences are striking. In the middle of the Netherlands, for example, at least three quarters to eighty percent must still be threshed. The wheat harvest has yet to start in Friesland and Groningen. Mainly grass seed, winter barley and some rapeseed were harvested there. On the sandy and valley soils in the northeast, a start was made last week with the summer barley, which ripens remarkably early.
The hectolitre weight of harvested wheat remains unchanged reports also CSAV. Numbers of 80 or more are no exception. This also results in good yield figures of ten tons or even higher. The moisture percentages are then again quite low. Some loads are brought in at as little as ten percent. Whether the weight loss relative to the fifteen percent trade standard is compensated depends on the collector.
Grain emergency ripe
Winter and spring wheats sown later may have lower yields because crops have suffered more from the drought this season. The cereal crops have become distressed due to the high temperatures and drought of recent weeks. Temperatures between 35 and 40 degrees in particular ensured that plots of wheat ripen quickly. Some arable farmers are surprised by the rapid ripening. The grain does not look ripe yet, while the moisture is already below the standard. The straw has also died off relatively far, despite the accelerated ripening period, although the 'knots' do remain green for a long time. Opposite is a beautiful color.
The precipitation of last Thursday and Friday did not cause any real problems and gave some peace of mind, although there has been little stress so far. In general, there was between five and ten millimeters of precipitation, with here and there local heavy showers of up to forty millimeters in, for example, the Noordoostpolder. Even today and tomorrow, small showers can throw a spanner in the works.
Smooth progress expected
On Sunday afternoon and Monday morning, the harvesting activities have started again in many places, although not all wheat is yet sufficiently dry. In the second half of the week, threshing can resume in high gear so that many arable farmers in the southwest and Flevoland can have the grain harvest ready before August XNUMX.
The combines are also working overtime in other European countries. According to official French figures from the beginning of last week, more than half of all wheat was in. It is estimated that today it is almost three quarters. In the east of England, farmers are flying through the harvest. Extreme drought and heat ensure that all crops are ripe at the same time. Despite the dry weather, the yields are average to good.
Lower French wheat yield, higher in Germany
In France, Stratégie Grains has revised its yield forecast for wheat from 7,12 to 6,95 tons per hectare, mainly because the kilos in southern and central France are disappointing. In the north, where the harvest is only now starting, it is probably better. The German Raiffeisenverband (DRV) is sticking to a good grain harvest that will amount to 2021 percent above 43,2 at 7,64 million tons. The winter barley harvest is just above last year's volume with a smaller acreage. The DRV expects an average wheat yield of 7,35 tons per hectare compared to XNUMX tons last year. This will increase the national wheat volume by five percent.