Quite a bit of winter wheat was harvested in the south and center of the Netherlands last week. The circumstances before that were variable and that can also be said for the yield. The spread is large. What is the cause? The prices of wheat at the well and also of straw are on the rise, just now that the harvest is in progress.
The difference between the various arable regions of the Netherlands is quite large this season. Arable farmers in Zeeland have harvested up to three quarters of their wheat, while in Groningen barely a grain has been threshed. Quite a bit of wheat has also been harvested in the polders.
60 percent harvested
According to the most recent figures from CZAV, 60% of all wheat has now been received. Despite rain showers, threshing was possible throughout the week, until Saturday. A considerable area has already been harvested, especially in Zeeland, although the harvest on the South Holland islands is also going well. Yields in the southwest of the Netherlands vary considerably. On clay soil it is average to good. That means 8 tons to peaks of 11 tons per hectare. The hectoliter weights are relatively high early in the season, up to the mid-80s.
Plots of sandy soil that are sensitive to drought show very different figures. In extreme cases, wheat crops do not even grow beyond 4 tons per hectare. The early plots clearly benefited more from the available moisture, although the general opinion is that the drought certainly cost yields.
Lots of wheat flat
While threshing went smoothly in the south-west of the Netherlands, it is not all that easy for arable farmers in Flevoland. At the beginning of July, storm Poly wiped out many hectares of wheat. Plots that emerged from the battle somewhat damaged were also later flattened by a combination of wind and small, heavy showers.
Much of this wheat has now been cleared from the field. The moisture percentages have usually not been ideal, but given the weather type and the fact that the wheat lies flat, this is not easy to get to or below 15%. 17% to 18% are also participating this year. Growers cover the drying costs to get rid of the wheat. If you don't do this, gunshots are lurking and feeding damage by pigeons or other birds such as rooks and geese is also a problem. The yield can then quickly halve.
Changeable weather
In Flevoland, almost half of the winter wheat has now been harvested, although the pressing of the straw still has to be properly started. Given the changeable weather forecast, there will probably not be much threshing throughout the Netherlands this week. This is not a problem for the regions where the harvest has yet to start, in the north and extreme south. If the wheat harvest can start there at the beginning of August, that will be perfectly on time.
Just now that the combines are running, wheat prices are also rising again, although the reason for this is sad. This can be directly traced back to the drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian port facilities. On Thursday, July 20, the Matif closed at €255,75 per ton, only to drop sharply again the next day. On Monday, July 24, the price shot up again to €264,75 per tonne. In practice, buyers of wheat usually use a spot price that is €20 to €25 lower than the future. That amounts to €230 to perhaps €240 on the put, depending on further price developments this week.
Straw price remains strong
The changeable weather does not make it easy to get the straw in properly. The yields are generally not bad, especially in the north of the Netherlands. There was slightly more precipitation there and the wheat grew well, especially on the heavier clay soil. Insiders quote prices of €60 to €75 per tonne behind the combine, depending on the region. All straw barns ended empty, which means that the market started clean and clear question is like straw. If it remains changeable, the forage harvester will be called in more often and arable farmers will be less patient to wait for the poachers. The chance that the price will then remain stable is high, even with increasing supply.