Winter Seed Availability and Prices in the High £400s
Seed suppliers are currently offering winter wheat at prices ranging from £450/t to £550/t, with additional specialist treatments potentially adding over £150 to the base price. Despite a slight decrease in ex-farm feed wheat prices compared to last year, seed costs have remained steady, potentially leading more farmers to consider using farm-saved seed.
The trade is predicting a larger overall wheat area for the next harvest, with decreased plantings of oilseed rape and barley expected. There is also a forecasted increase in the planted area of peas and beans for use as break crops. Certain wheat varieties, such as Bamford and Beowulf, are in high demand, while others are seeing slower sales, possibly due to farmers waiting until after harvest to make decisions.
Traders have reported shortages of popular wheat varieties like Skyfall, Crusoe, and SY Cheer, with stocks running low until merchants finish cleaning out their supplies. Despite an early harvest in England allowing for a wider planting window, farmers in Scotland and Northern Ireland have been delayed, potentially impacting their planting decisions.
Syngenta seeds technical manager, Matthew Bull, advises farmers planning to drill early this autumn to choose varieties with reliable Septoria resistance. Overall, the industry is seeing delayed decision-making from farmers regarding crop choices for the coming year, with many still evaluating their options as the planting season progresses.
Key numbers to note include a 80% decrease in feed wheat prices compared to the same week last year, a price range of £450-550/t for winter wheat seed, and a 7% reduction in total cereals and OSR crop area for 2024.
SOURCE
Maria Sanchez completed her Bachelor’s degree in Plant Sciences from the University of California, Davis, in the USA. Her studies focused on plant genetics and biotechnology, with an emphasis on developing disease-resistant crop varieties. Maria has contributed to several research projects aimed at improving crop resilience to climate change and is now pursuing her Master’s degree in Plant Breeding.