Dry weather conditions have resulted in some of the highest Hagberg Falling Numbers for the past few years, according to the AHD/HGCA’s provisional Cereal Quality Survey.

More than 17,000 samples of GB wheat have been analysed, up to 30 August, and show large improvements on last year’s poor quality crop. The average Hagberg Falling Number came out at 334 seconds, while average specific weight was 77.8kg/hl.

This compares to a final Hagberg Falling Number average of 237 last year, and specific weight of 69.6 kh/hl. Protein content is averaging slight lower, with the provisional result 12.4, compared to 12.5 last year, while moisture content is currently at 14.8% on average, compared to 15% in 2012.

However, a large proportion of the samples to date have been from the East of England, where the progress had been greatest, and were predominantly nabim group 1 and 2 varieties.

Amandeep Kaur Purewal, senior analyst, AHDB/HGCA, said: “As the harvest progresses and more nabim group 3 and 4 samples are included in the wheat analysis, there will be changes to the wheat data. 

“Compared to 2012, overall samples for both wheat and barley have improved, but the real question must be how quality parameters will finally compare to more typical years rather than focusing on year-on-year comparisons.”

The results will be updated in October, with final results published in November.