Biofuel call amid harvest crisis

Aug 20 2004 By Jennifer Mackenzie, The Journal

The rain-ravaged North has many acres of crops spoiled with no alternative use for them. Depressed farmers in Northumberland and County Durham are facing the prospect of acres of winter barley at only feed value and having to plough in oilseed rape crops because prolonged heavy rain has prevented them being harvested.

It has led one Northumberland farmer who stands to lose more than £10,000 to call on the Government to look seriously at its biofuels policy.

Pip Robson, of Chathill, near Alnwick, who has lost his 70-acre oilseed rape crop, said: "It's vexing that the crop is ruined because it has sprouted, but it could have been used for biofuel if the Government had the infrastructure in place.

"The crop should have been harvested a fortnight ago, but because of the humidity and the weather it has sprouted.

"We're not alone in this and what really hurts is that at least 20pc of the rape crop in North Northumberland is ruined, but it could have been used for biofuel. Britain is being left behind by the rest of Europe in biofuel development. It's a great opportunity which is going to waste - most of the green fuel in this country is imported."

Chris Matthews, director of Berwick general merchant McCreath Simpson and Prentice, said it appeared only half the oilseed in Northumberland had been cut and up to 20pc of winter barley was still in the ground with the spring barley harvest just starting. "It's pretty depressing. The rape has been spoilt and the barley will all be for feed use because it won't make the grade.

"Last year, farmers had a fantastic harvest but this year it's the complete opposite. It is worrying because it comes at a time when input costs are going up because energy prices are rising."

With the experience of this summer's harvest, Dalgety Northern seeds manager George Doody suggests that earliness of maturity should be a higher priority for North grain producers.

"With most modern wheat varieties capable of producing consistently high yields, other agronomic characteristics should come to the fore when selecting what to drill. The further north you go, earliness becomes a real issue, particularly in a protracted harvest such as this," he said.

"Growers also need varieties that have good sprouting resistance and can hold on to their quality during a protracted wet harvest."

Mr Doody said the new group two variety Cordiale was a significant step forward.

"Not only is Cordiale three to four days ahead of Malacca to maturity, it also has very good sprouting resistance.

"This will make it an ideal choice the further north you go."

He said because Cordiale was at the top end of group two quality, it would do well in the Scottish Borders. Scottish Agronomy's Andrew Gilchrist agreed. "Because it is exceptionally early to mature, Cordiale looks attractive, particularly the further north you go," he said.