April 2003

Tuesday, 1 Apr, 2003

Harvest Report

The 2003 wheat harvest is mostly complete and results are 'good average', but as usual quite variable. Dryland areas of Canterbury experienced only average yileds with some quality issues of low kernal weights and test weights.

Irrigated and higher rainfall areas achieved good yields, with the only significant quality issue being generally lower than average protein levels in milling wheat due to the watering down effect of higher yields. North Island areas reported good yields and quality, however lack of grain storage is becomming a major issue. Southland has reported only average yileds.

The general concensus is that the harvesting conditions were relatively kind in contrast to the difficult harvest season of 2002.

Grain Pricing

Growers should be aware of the changing pricing levels in international wheat markets. The rising value of the New Zealand dollar and decreasing international wheat price has put downward pressure on uncontracted grain sales post the 2003 harvest. United Wheatgrowers (NZ) Ltd provide international pricing trends on this web site so that growers may be fully aware of the pricing trends and may make informed marketing decisions. Processing companies wishing to purchase uncontracted grain have expressed a desire to quote on this grain prior to settling on levels of imported grain.

As the 2004 harvest contract round approaches we will attempt to display available contracts.

<< Back