Wet weather across the UK at the end of July and early August has delayed the wheat harvest.
Indeed according to the latest AHDB harvest progress report only 2.5% of the GB wheat area was estimated to have been harvested by August 12 – the slowest start since 2017, and 21% behind the five-year average at this date.
Owing to the limited wheat area cut, yield and quality, data is limited. Crop size estimates made earlier in the season on the basis of the crop condition rated the majority “good-to-excellent”, and estimated the planted area at 1.74Mha.
At an estimated 15Mt, the potential wheat crop would be 1% below the 2015-2019 average and 55% larger than the paltry 2020 crop. The small carryover from the previous season, coupled with strong demand means many analysts are forecasting another tight year for UK wheat.
It’s hoped that settled weather over the week commencing August 16 will allow good progress to be made.
