Farmer2000 - Great Britain - Bulletin No.30

Going for quality ..

A recent survey of arable farmers conducted by the National Farm Research Unit (NFRU) has found that more arable farmers are intending to grow for the quality markets. Just over one-fifth (21%) of wheat growers reported that they were growing for bread making, with a further 17% for biscuit making. This has increased substantially from previous years with availability of new quality varieties. There was considerable regional variation, with 31% of farmers in the Eastern Region and the South East going for milling wheats and 24% of farmers in the South East going for biscuit quality.

When it comes to malting, 22% of farmers nationally said they grew their barley for malting purposes. In 2005 a similar NFRU survey reported that just 11% of barley growers grew malting barley. This grew to 19% last year and has grown further this year. In Scotland the figure was much higher, with 55% of Scottish farmers growing malting barley.

... reflected in uptake of new varieties

Many arable farmers planted a new variety for the first time this autumn, particularly winter wheat and oilseed rape. Across the UK 30% of winter wheat growers grew a variety for the first time, with the Group 1 variety Gallant being the most popular new variety. Other wheat varieties included the Group 3 Scout and Group 4's Duxford, JBDiego, Oakley and Viscount.

Around a quarter (23%) of oilseed rape growers grew a new variety, with the conventional variety DK Cabernet being singled out by 30% of these growers. Other varieties being grown for the first time included Vision (14% of growers) and Excalibur (8%). A further 32 different varieties were grown for the first time.

Barley growers were less likely to try out new varieties, although 14% said that they were doing so this season. Popular newly planted varieties were Cassata (16% of growers) and Cassia (9%) for the winter crop and Concerto (7%), Quench (6%) and NFC-Tipple (5%) for the spring crop. Four years ago just 5% of growers were trying out a new barley variety.

Seed production practices

A survey by the National Farm Research Unit reveals that 27% of wheat was grown from farm saved seed. In the Eastern region and in the East Midlands 35% of wheat growers used their own farm saved seed. This appeared to be a less common practice in some regions such as the North East, North West and Wales.

Just 4% of wheat was grown on seed contract, with 21% of contract seed growers growing all their wheat under contract.

Membership of Farming Group

A survey by the National Farm Research Unit reveals that 26% of arable farmers across the UK said that they were members of a farmer buying group. There was significant regional variation, with 35% of arable farmers in the Eastern region being part of a farmer buying group, 34% of farmers in the South East and 34% in the South East. Membership of a farmer buying group was less common in Scotland (16% of arable farmers), the South West region (17%) and the West Midlands (14%).

The most common purchases from buying groups were fertiliser, purchased by 81% of farmer members, crop protection products bought by 70% of farmers and seed bought by 64% of arable farmers. Just under one-third (29%) of farmer members bought fuel via the group.

Crop yields - this year versus last year

A Poll by the National Farm Research Unit reveals that 19% of arable farmers across the UK thought that their wheat yields this year were higher than last year, but 40% thought yields were lower and 24% thought their yields this harvest were similar to last year's harvest.

For winter barley 19% of arable farmers across the UK thought their yields were higher this year than last year, but 34% thought yields were lower and 35% thought yields were similar. Spring barley yields were more disappointing with 44% of growers saying their yields were lower, 20% saying they were the same and 18% saying yields were higher this harvest.

For winter oilseed rape, there was more optimism with 27% of rape growers reporting higher yields comparing this year with last, 26% reporting similar yields but 32%, particularly in the East and in Yorkshire and Humberside, reporting lower yields.