It is said that the sun must burn for barley and burn it did at the beginning of the week. Winter barley is of course not the largest crop in the Netherlands but a big boost has been given with the harvest. According to the preliminary reports, yields are good. Is that an indication of what we can expect from winter wheat and summer grains?
Almost all crops seem to be early this season and that certainly applies to grains. In mid-June the first winter barley was threshed in the south of the country. This week the harvest really got going and the combines were running all over the country. In the south and centre the winter barley is almost finished.
Statements about yields are cautious, but in general the yield is good. Outliers towards 12 tons per hectare are included, but on average 9,5 to 10 tons will be threshed, estimates an insider from the southwest. That is good, but for a record yield a little more rain should have fallen during the filling.
The winter wheat will probably also be early this season. We have to wait and see what the weather will do, but if the warmer and dry weather returns next week, the first wheat can be harvested by the end of the week. Opinions differ considerably about the expected yields. The winter wheat was generally sown on time and survived the winter well. The spring and summer have been on the dry side so far, but the soil structure was good, which resulted in a good root system under the plants and the mold pressure is relatively low. The recipe for a good or even very good yield according to some sources. Others are a bit more cautious and point to the poor moisture supply during flowering and ripening. The yield seems to be good, but will not break any records according to those sources.
Insiders are slightly less optimistic about summer grains. We have almost forgotten, but March started off cool and lean. Spring wheat and barley had some trouble getting going in the early stages. Then drought slowed growth somewhat. A yield around the multi-year average seems most likely, according to an insider.
With the grain harvest, the straw trade is also starting. Emmeloord has the first quotation for barley straw loose from the land this week and sets it at €50 to €60 per ton. Several forage traders in the south of the country report that they have secured some Dutch barley straw for €70 at the beginning of this week. Incidentally, the largest part of the barley straw that is now coming onto the market is of French origin.