The final 2005 HGCA Cereals Quality Survey results confirm the improvement in wheat quality this season over 2004/05. Average Hagbergs and specific weights in Great Britain are above the 04/05 and three-year averages, with protein content displaying more mixed results.

"Across the country the Hagberg falling numbers are much improved this year," said Michael Archer, HGCA economist. "The greatest improvements are in the North and Midlands."

The Great Britain average Hagberg falling number for wheat is 255 seconds. This is 75 seconds more than 04/05 and 12 seconds (5%) above the three-year average. In the North and Midlands regions, Hagbergs are 15 seconds (7%) above the three-year averages and up to 120 seconds above the 2004/05 values. Within the Nabim Groups, Group 2 wheat shows the largest improvement, being 18 seconds (7%) above the three-year average, at 278 seconds.

Specific weight in Great Britain wheat is also up, with the average placed at 76.5 kg/hl, 1.8kg/hl above 04/05 and 0.3 kg/hl (0.3%) above the three-year average. The most significant improvements are in the Eastern, North and Midlands regions, where increases of 0.4 kg/hl (0.5%) occurred over the three-year average and up to 2.4 kg/hl over the 04/05 averages. Nabim Group 1 wheat performed particularly well for Specific weight, being 0.3 kg/hl (0.3%) above the three-year average and 1.5kg/hl above 04/05.

The picture for GB protein content is mixed. GB average protein content is 12.4%, down slightly from the three-year and 2004/05 average of 12.6%. Although average proteins are up slightly in the South East and South West they are down by as much as 2% in all other GB areas.

"Generally, last season's crop was seen to be of a poor quality, although a large regional variation did exist," said Michael Archer. "There was a greater supply of bread-making wheat in the south than in the north, with millers in the north often having to pay significant haulage costs to ensure a stable supply. There is much less regional variation this season, which may help to reduce supply and demand imbalances across GB."

The final barley results suggest quality is improved over 04/05 but mixed compared to three-year averages. Average GB specific weight for barley is 67.1 kg/hl. This is 0.6 kg/hl above 04/05 and 0.7 kg/hl above the three-year average. With the exception of the South Eastern region, specific weight is similar or up in all areas compared to 04/05 and the three-year average.

The average nitrogen content of barley, is 1.76%, up slightly from the three-year average and 04/05 figure of 1.74%. This increase is due to significant improvements in the South East and South West areas (where protein content is seen at 1.82% and 1.81% respectively). All other areas experienced small decreases in nitrogen content, apart from Scotland, where the figure remained at 1.6%.

Screening results show that on average 3.3% of grain passed through a 2.25mm sieve. This is less than the three-season average but more than 04/05. Similarly, 88.7% of barley was retained by a 2.5mm filter, more than the three-year average but less than 04/05. The screening results were variable across Great Britain.

Full details of the 32nd HGCA Quality Survey can be found of the HGCA website.

Information from 55,000 wheat samples and 19,000 barley were received and analysed by the HGCA for the survey.

HGCA's mission is to improve the production and marketing of UK grain, to increase its competitiveness in UK and overseas markets.