Thinking of clearing out your stores before harvest?
2-MINUTE READ
With harvest fast approaching, many arable farmers are asking the same question: is it worth holding on to old crop, or is now the time to clear out the sheds? Or maybe you don’t have a choice and are looking to sell in a hurry. Let’s take a look at the latest market signals – and your selling options.
High stocks, weak demand
AHDB’s latest supply and demand estimates suggest a heavy carryover into the new season:
Wheat stocks at the end of the season are expected to hit 2.937 Mt (million tonnes), well above the five-year average of 2.116 Mt
Barley stocks are also expected to hit 1.440 Mt against a five-year average of 1.173 Mt
Meanwhile, future production is unclear. The AHDB Early Bird Survey of cropping intentions indicates a 5% year-on-year increase in the overall wheat area for harvest 2025, suggesting further pressure on supply levels. Yields, however, could be lower than last year due to the very dry spring.
Demand has also been shaken by the UK-US trade deal. The removal of the 19% tariff on US ethanol imports has put the UK’s largest bioethanol-producing plant at risk – a move that could dent domestic wheat usage even further.
Prices reflect the mood
All this is showing up in the markets. London feed wheat futures for November 2025 ended May at just £178.20 per tonne, after drifting downwards for three months. In just the last week of the month the price fell by 5.5%.
London feed wheat (Nov 25) has slumped to £178.20/t
So there is little indication that holding on to old crop will give you a better price later in the year, even if you have the storage available.
What are your options?
Need space before harvest? Act fast!
If your sheds need clearing, don’t miss the chance to sell your crop before movement slots tighten in the next couple of weeks.Sell now for future movement
If you have storage space, consider selling your old crop now for movement after harvest 2025. For example, you could list your old feed wheat to move in December 2025, and take advantage of the potential carry on a forward contract. Holding crop over without a locked-in price could be risky.A mixed strategy
Many farmers are taking a blended approach:
Sell some old crop for immediate movement to make room
Sell some old crop forward to lock in prices
Hold a little back in case of a price spike
Whatever strategy suits your farm, Hectare Trading makes it easy.
Post a listing in minutes to attract offers from our network of top buyers. With multiple offers you can make sure you’re getting the best price possible right now for your grain.
Hectare Trading gives you transparent pricing and the power to sell smaller portions of your grain to protect yourself from choppy markets, plus free local and national price information with every account.
Need help getting started? Book some time with the Hectare Trading team – we’ll show you the latest market insights and how to list your grain with confidence.
This article is for general information only and is not an instruction to trade. While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the content at the time of publication, Hectare Trading makes no guarantee regarding the data provided.