First threshing results and barley prices in Germany
The warm weather of the last few days has accelerated grain ripening. While a significant proportion of the barley has already been threshed in the warm south of Germany, in the north, isolated test threshing is beginning on the lighter sites.
Yields are reported in a wide range from around 50 to 80 dt/ha. However, the statements are not very representative because comparability of the locations is not guaranteed. Extreme crop failures are mentioned just as little as far above-average results. The comparatively high Hl weight of 62 and above is striking.
The prices are also mentioned in a wide range from under 15 to 19 €/dt. However, the conditions of sale and purchase often remain unclear. In the surplus areas, prices tend to be based on the lower values, while high premiums are being achieved for goods that are immediately available in the emptied subsidy areas. The main barley harvest is due to start in the north next week.
An above-average harvest is expected at the typical rye locations.
Wheat growers, on the other hand, are highly skeptical about the rapid ripening of wheat. This type of grain needs a longer time for its grain filling phase in order to be high-yielding. In view of the hot days forecast for next week, the formation of the wheat grains will be completed too quickly because there may not be enough water to transport nutrients in the plant.
The current estimates for the German grain harvest are over 46 million tons. This is a slight increase on the previous year's 44.5 million tons, but remains in the middle of the range. A previous record harvest was just under 50 million tons, but cannot be achieved today due to the heavy cultivation of energy maize for biogas plants.
