Cereal quality deteriorates with harvest progress - farmers weekly

AT 70.7KG/HL, THE AVERAGE SPECIFIC WEIGHT ON GB WHEATS FROM THE 2012 CROP IS THE WORST SINCE 1977, SAYS HGCA. The latest quality figures are from 35,599 samples of wheat received up to 17

September and mainly reflect South-East and Eastern region results, with 72% of samples coming from these areas. The estimates are also weighted towards nabim group 1 and 2 varieties which

make up 46% of the samples. Specific weights typically ranged from 62kg/hl – 79kg/hl, with some in the 50 – 60kg/hl range. Average GB Hagberg falling numbers to date are 249 seconds,

compared to a three year average of 267 seconds. This is the lowest since 2008. Protein content is the highest since 2006, at 12.5%. Despite the inclusion of more nabim group 3 and 4 samples

in these results, the results for protein are the same as in the earlier results published two weeks ago. Almost 22,000 barley samples tested so far show an average GB specific weight of

63.2kg/hl, lower than last season’s final result of 66.4kg/hl and the three year average of 66.6kg/hl. The typical range of samples is 58kg/hl to 69kg/hl says HGCA. While many more spring

and Scottish samples are included in these latest results, they are still slightly biased towards the English regions. Average nitrogen content of GB barley is 1.60%, lower than last year’s

final result of 1.71% and the three year average (1.65%). Screening results are poorer in general with an average of 3.7% of grain passing through a 2.25mm sieve (higher than 2011 and the

three year average) and 89.4% of grain retained by a 2.5mm sieve (lower than 2011 and the three year average). This year’s crop is less consistent than average with a greater number of

shrivelled grains and a very broad range of samples. Final results of the AHDB/HGCA Cereal Quality Survey will be published at the beginning of November when sample numbers are expected to

be about 60,000 for wheat and 25,000 for barley.  WHEAT ESTIMATES        GB Wheat to 17 Sept 2012  2009 Final 2010 Final 2011 Final  3 Year Average  Biased towards SE & E regions and

nabim groups 1 & 2  2012 2nd Provisional  Approximate Range  Specific Weight (kg/hl)  76.9  77.0  78.7  77.5  70.7  62 – 79  Hagberg Falling Number (seconds)  263  270  269  267  249  

118 – 380 Protein Content (%) 11.6 11.9 12.0 11.8 12.5 10.2 – 14.8 BARLEY ESTIMATES        GB Barley to 17 Sept 2012 (Winter and Spring varieties)  2009 Final 2010 Final 2011 Final  3 Year

Average  Slight bias towards winter barley varieties  2012 2nd Provisional  Approximate Range  Specific Weight (kg/hl)  66.3  67.0  66.4  66.6  63.2  58 – 69  Nitrogen Content (%)  1.61  

1.64  1.71  1.65  1.60  1.3 – 1.9 Grain through 2.25mm sieve (%) 1.5 1.9 1.4 1.6 3.7 0 – 8  Grain retained 2.5mm sieve (%)  95.0  94.1  95.8  95.0  89.4  79 – 100 FOR MORE ON THIS TOPIC

Early cereal quality results confirm fears