Harvest starts well but clouds on the horizon

摘要

Harvest is under way, but with input costs continuing to rise, Martin Hewlett is less than optimistic about the future for cereal production at Deer Park Farm. "We want to continue to be as self-sufficient as possible," he says. "But with the extra variable costs, we need a 5t/ha (2t/acre) crop to break even, with barley at - 20/t." Mr Hewlett's barley usually averages 5.5t/ha (2.25t/acre), so there is not much margin for error.