The combines are rolling and the buzz in the air is palpable – Harvest 2025 is officially underway across the UK, and it’s happening earlier than expected! Thanks to an exceptionally dry spring and summer, farmers are already into their winter wheat, barley, oat, and oilseed rape crops, a scenario that’s providing an unexpected boost for mobile seed processors.
Why the early start is good news for farm-saved seed
At Evans and Pearce, we’re seeing our machines out on farms earlier than ever, processing seed crops as farmers eagerly embrace the economic and agronomic advantages of farm-saved seed. Our Managing Director, Rob White, notes that an early harvest often sparks even greater interest in this practice. “When crops are harvested dry and early, it removes some of the logistical hurdles associated with segregating seed lots,” he explains. “Our processing output is currently more akin to mid-August than July, which is a situation I haven’t seen before!”
Quality and yields: early indications
So, what are we seeing out in the fields? So far, it’s a mixed but generally positive picture. “We’ve processed some really good quality, high-yielding barleys,” says Rob. “Early wheats are also performing better than anticipated. While early wheat yields are slightly down in some areas, we’ve seen excellent milling quality, on varieties like Crusoe harvested as early as July 13th and processed just a day later.”
From field to flour (and back again!): a day in the life
Just this past Monday, our team led by Jamie Whitmarsh was hard at work near Bridgwater, grading and bagging heritage milling wheat. Their goal? To ensure a pristine sample for the mill, free from stones, weed seeds, and straw.
Later that same day, we tackled a more challenging sample: a poorly thrashed batch of Valerie Winter Barley. This is where our in-house designed and built deawner really shone! It transformed what was an “undrillable” grain sample into one perfectly fit for sowing later in the year. The Valerie barley also received a treatment of Rancona iMix and a high dose of manganese – a crucial addition for this farmer’s soil, which suffers from a local deficiency. Barley, in particular, responds incredibly well to manganese on the seed, and we always recommend its addition to the SPD, if your soil is deficient. While it can slightly bleach the pigment of the Rancona iMix (as you might see in photos!), the positive impact on the emerging seed and subsequent plant growth is undeniable.
It’s been a hectic but rewarding start to Harvest 2025, and we’re excited to continue helping farmers make the most of their crops through efficient and high-quality farm-saved seed processing!
Want to learn more?
If you would like to know more about our Mobile Seed Processing and see if we can improve your yields, then click here for more information, or call us on 01935 850750.
