Professional services Survey offers valuable
insight into harvest 2019 • Higher yields for combinable crops • Rainfall in June is crucial diff erence • Adaptability is key to performance
G
rowers can gain valuable insight into the profi ta- bility and performance of combinable crops – thanks to the 2019 annual harvest survey from Strutt & Parker.
Covering 110,600ha across some 137 farms, the survey shows that yields increased for all the main combinable crops in 2019 – with winter cereals getting off to a good start. Most farms surveyed were in East Anglia, the Midlands and south-east England. Strutt & Parker consultant and agronomist Tom FitzGerald said 2019 was characterised by good autumn crop establishment but low winter rainfall. This meant spring crops could be drilled far earlier than in 2018, which un- doubtedly helped the uplift in yields.
“The wetter weather from the start of June helped to secure yields of most crops, although
frequent rain events and show- ers during the harvest period did mean harvest was generally slow and many growers saw increased drying costs as a result.
Performance Winter wheat yields averaged 9.9t/ha – some 17% higher than in 2018 and 7% higher than the fi ve-year average. First- wheats yielded 4% higher than the fi ve-year average at 10t/ha, with second wheats 15% better at 9.8t/ha. Winter barley also performed better than in 2018 with yields 14% higher at 8.8t/ha. Spring bar- ley yields were up 23% on 2018 levels and 9% above the fi ve-year average. Winter oilseed rape averaged 3.4t/ha which is only 1% higher than in 2018 and 1% higher than the fi ve-year average, with cab- bage steam fl ea beetle infestations
Combinable crop yields for harvest 2019
Tom FitzGerald: Driving profi tability
and a dry spring both impacting on yields.
Spring beans average 3.8t/ha – some 36% higher than the 2018 average. Winter bean yields were up 32% on the previous year. Rain- fall in June was the crucial dif- ference between the 2018 and 2019 crops, with the drought of 2018 causing a drastic reduction in yield.
Profitability Mr FitzGerald said: “Looking at the crops in terms of their fi nan- cial performance, the dry spring allowed many growers to reduce their fungicide spend on wheat crops considerably, relying more on varietal resistance than on chemistry.
“But despite this fall in varia- ble costs and signifi cantly higher yields, net margins are likely to be lower as a consequence of low- er commodity prices than in 2018.”
Unlike this autumn, many cereal crops last year were drilled in good conditions
Mr FitzGerald said analysis of data about yields and costs of pro- duction was invaluable in helping to making informed decisions re- lating to crop management. The survey showed a 2t/ha range in yields in the middle 50% of yields for most cereal crops – a gap which could greatly affect profi tability if the crops are not managed accordingly. At current prices of £138/t, this variability represents a £276/ha difference in revenue.
Optimising margins In seasons where yields are so variable, you want to maintain as much margin as you can and that involves being clever about where you can save costs, but equally, be- ing clear in your mind about where a higher spend on inputs like fun- gicides and fertilisers is going to pay for itself. “We know that growers who adjust their crop management, based on the potential of the crop, are better placed to protect their margins and ensure that different parts of the farm are operating at the optimum level.” Mr FitzGerald said he would advise more growers to be utilising technology to record yields, crop sales and prices, variable costs and fi xed costs. “Most growers are already us- ing systems on their farms that have this functionality, but are not using them to their full po- tential. Integrating this informa- tion with new, independent sys- tems will facilitate new insights into the production of crops, im- proving decision-making and driv- ing profi tability.”
Looking ahead
Autumn 2019 will understand- ably be remembered for all the wrong reasons – due to prolonged wet conditions hampering the drilling of autumn cereals. But Mr FitzGerald said there were lessons to be considered for the future.
“Growers who were able to adapt quickly to changes in con- ditions, and windows for drill- ing have managed to get crops in the ground. This also goes hand- in-hand with having machinery and labour available to act ac- cordingly. “Having smaller machinery,
which is able to travel in more challenging conditions, can pay off in seasons such as this.
56 ANGLIA FARMER• DECEMBER 2019
[source: Struff & Parker]
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