Once again the weather is the main topic of conversation. Many of you told me that we would have a long dry spell after the poor weather of autumn 2017 and Spring 2018.

Markets seem to have moved forwards this afternoon as yield predictions are lowered within Europe.

The seed market has come to life during the week, and many of you will have been looking at trials over the past couple of weeks and making cropping decisions. We have tried to encourage early ordering, especially for the newer varieties with limited availability.

WHEAT

Wheat from harvest 2017 is under pressure; at the same time new crop prices are lifting today.

As I write the newsletter, Wheat Futures are trading at the following levels:

£146.80 (July 18), £163.25 (Nov 18), £163.25 (Jan 19), £165.00 (Mar 19), £169.25 (May 19), £159.00 (Nov 19)

BARLEY

The feed barley market is very quiet. Harvest prices will start somewhere in the region of £136 per tonne ex farm.

It will be interesting to see the gap between barley and wheat once the market gets underway.

MALTING BARLEY

As harvest approaches, we wait to see how the 2018/19 season develops. We are offering contracts for both winter and spring varieties.

We promoted CRAFT winter barley last autumn, and told a considerable tonnage of seed. Craft appears to be an improvement on SY Venture.

There is a national shortage of Craft seed and anyone who intends growing the variety this autumn should act quickly to ensure supply.

OATS

We have traded a few loads of feed/milling oats during the past weeks. Please keep in touch for up to date information on contract opportunities for harvest 2019.

OILSEED RAPE

Oilseed rape prices have firmed a little over the week. As an indication, our daily ex farm prices for 29/6/18 were as follows:

August £295
Sept     £300
Oct       £302
Nov      £304
Dec      £305

We will have several storage/drying options for harvest 2018.

SEED

Group 1 varieties:
Skyfall continues to prove a popular choice; Orange Wheat Blossom Midge resistance is a unique attribute within this sector.

Crusoe continues to deliver quality samples, simply the best variety for natuarlly high protein.

KWS Zyatt – looks a good choice for yield, agronomic characteristics.
A good variety for later drilling and the  second wheat slot.

Group 2 –
KWS Siskin – high yielding variety,widely grown as feed. Possible premium.
KWS Lili – as Siskin, inferior untreated yields. Still popular with some of our growers.

Group 3 soft
Elicit – nothing not to like about this very popular variety.High untreated / treated yields.
OWBM resistant.

Group 4 soft
KWS Jackal – may be of interest to growers looking for a change from Leeds.

Elation – the same parentage as Elicit, admittedly with inferior Septoria resistance.
We believe this variety will prove popular in autumn 2018.

We mentioned Gleam wheat several months ago, and we are close to selling out our own crop.
There are a number of group 4 hard wheat varieties which offer excellent yield and agronomic characteristics:
RGT Gravity
Gleam
Kerrin
Shabras
Graham

We liked the high untreated yield of Gleam, 5% higher than the closest rival. The treated yield is up there with RGT Gravity, another strong contender.

Oilseed rape – large selection available.

Hybrid barley

Stubble Turnips / Mustard in stock.

After a  4 mile walk on Fraisthorpe beach with my younger daughter, future son-in-law and very happy 4 year-old Spaniel, I have had an extremely enjoyable Fathers Day.

The lawn has been cut, and we had a very pleasant roast beef lunch at The Wolds Inn, Huggate.

I expect quite a few of you made the pilgrimage to Cereals this year, but for the 3rd year in a row I did not attend. It is a fact I am not particularly proud of, but we basically have a lot going on and my time was better spent in Driffield.

We have seen a number of seed orders during the course of the week, and expect the pace will increase even more as we approach July.

Grain markets have seen a bit of a downturn during the past few days, but prices are still at decent levels.

WHEAT

As I write the report the LIFFE Wheat Futures prices are as follows:-
£150.10     July 18
£157.75     Nov 18
£160.10     Jan 19
£162.45     Mar 19
£163.95     May 19
£161.55     July 19
£156.60     Nov 19

Ex farm prices have drifted a little lower for both 2018/19 crop feed wheat.

Lots of issues are keeping the wheat market interesting; Weather, politics, currency movements and the state of crops in key wheat growing countries. The talk of President Trump imposing Tariffs on China and the repercussions that will have add further spice to the mix.

It is fair to say that there is a feeling that harvest 2018 in the UK may only be average, with thin crops and a difficult growing season. That said, the Wolds have improved dramatically over the past weeks.

Please keep in touch with the office for up to date price information on feed/biscuit/milling wheat.

FEED BARLEY

A relatively quiet market for both old and new crop feed barley, with very few new offers are coming to the market.

We wait to see how close to wheat that feed barley will trade once harvest 2018 gets underway.

MALTING BARLEY

A very quiet market. Maltsters will be anxious to see how the winter and spring crops develop in the weeks ahead. The spring crops would benefit from some regular gentle rainfall.

OATS

We wait to see the direction of the oat market.

On a positive note the firm feed barley and wheat markets coupled with reduced plantings in both the UK and Scandinavia should lead to a reasonably good market during the 2018/19 season.

OILSEED RAPE

We are continuing to trade a few loads of oilseed rape from Harvest 2018. Prices have edged lower for both 2018/19 crop.

Although there are weather issues regarding both OSR and Soya crops the market is fairly static at present. The US crop is approaching a key stage in its growth, and forecasts of wet, warm weather have resulted in a lower Soya bean futures price.

Please keep in touch with the office for regular price updates.

We can offer various options for drying storage and drying for Harvest 2018.

BEANS

The bean market looks a little firmer for Harvest 2018. Please keep in touch with the office for regular updates on the feed an human consumption markets.

SEED

Please contact us for all your autumn seed requirements.

We welcome the opportunity to quote for:
Oilseed Rape – including Clearfield varieties – (COMPARE OUR PRICES BEFORE BUYING)
Barley – malting and feed varieties
Wheat – feed / milling / biscuit – our largest ever selection
Beans – locally grown “Tundra” winter beans
Mustard / soil improvement mixtures / stubble turnips

*NEW SEED GROWERS REQUIRED * – FOR BARLEY & WHEAT *

FERTILISER

The 2018 campaign finally started.

Prices for AN and AN + Sulphur / Granular Urea etc have taken most people by surprise. In a nutshell, they are considerably higher than we envisaged a few months ago. High energy prices, firm European fertiliser prices and a generally buoyant commodities market have no doubt all played their part.

Please keep in touch for all your requirements, including Yara, CF, Lithan, Pulan, AN + Sulphur, Urea, grades and a full range of blends and compounds.