THE UK pea harvest proved variable of both quality and yield, from location to location, while this year's bean harvest will be remembered as a good crop ruined by late summer rain, according to a round-up of the pulse harvest in the UK by Roger Vickers, chief executive of PGRO.

“The trade is estimating that the availability of human consumption quality beans will be about half that of last year at something under 100,000 tonnes," he told The SF. "Estimated feed bean supply is around 500,000-600,000 tonnes and as already reported the southern crop was heavily affected by bruchid beetle, while northern crops suffered staining issues from repeated wetting and drying prior to harvest.

“In Scotland – away from the immediate coastal areas in both the North and South-west – the harvest for all combinable crops is generally being considered as one of the worst since the early 1980s with many hundreds of hectares still to be cut. Crops ready for harvest some time ago remain in the fields, receiving regular moisture without sufficient time to dry down in between.

"Surprisingly, the quality once harvested is relatively good – but bringing the harvest home is becoming very problematic," he reported. “Beans yields are good, but crops are suffering – as is the barley – and staining will negatively affect the likelihood of achieving human consumption quality."

Looking ahead, he said the medium to longer-term agronomic and economic benefits of growing pulses remained strong, though the exact pulse area in the UK is uncertain for now following changes to EFA rules. "All that is removed is the short-term benefit of being able to claim EFA aid on a conventionally grown crop – pesticide applications being prohibited on EFA crop areas. It is hoped that this will not have a negative impact on 2018 crop area.”

Current bean values are running at around £145-149/t ex farm, similar to this time last year and PGRO advised 'to sell early rather than hold hoping the prices will improve', even though there's a lower availability of human consumption beans.