As of week 9 (week ending 11th Sept) AHDB report #4 indicates that the 2024 wheat, spring barley and winter barley harvests were 95%, 100% and 77% complete respectively. This is in line with last year and the five-year average. Now the harvest is coming to a close for 2024, here's the data from the samples that we have received so far.
According to the AHDB report average yields of wheat are 8% down on the 5-year average, averaging 7.42t/ha (AHDB Report #4). Variability in yield is reported as high. Protein content is low, with an average of 9.57%, continuing the decline we have seen over the last 6 years (see Figure 1). This is in line with the wider industry data.
Figure 1. Average Wheat Protein (2019 - 2024)
*Incomplete data set for 2024
Moisture content is averaging 13.37%, a slight decrease upon last year and similar to the 6-year average (Figure 2). Variation has ranged from a minimum of 9.3% and maximum of 14.8%, with little regional pattern.
Figure 2. Average Wheat Moisture (2019 - 2024)
*Incomplete data set for 2024
Data for barley indicates 2024 yields are 4% down for winter and 13% down for spring barley compared to the 5-year average at 6.13 t/ha and 5.67 t/ha respectively (AHDB report#4). As with the data for wheat protein is low, with an average of 8.28% (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Average Barley Protein (2019 - 2024)
*Incomplete data set for 2024
Barley moisture content, like wheat, is in line with the 6-year average at 13.38% (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Average Barley Moisture (2019 - 2024)
*Incomplete data set for 2023
Results for the full harvest will be published over the coming weeks once all analysis has been completed. The data used here is only our data and, in the wider industry, results may differ so may not give a representative example and should be interpreted with a degree of caution.
We would like to acknowledge our customers who have submitted samples which form the basis of this survey.