The availability of thatching straw
This briefing note is intended to provide information which can assist both conservation and local authority planning officers with decisions regarding material specification in planning applications involving thatch.
The 2008 harvest and the prospects for home-grown straw for thatching in 2009 are worse than the situation described this time last year following the catastrophic 2007 thatching straw harvest. Heavy, almost continuous rain during July through to September 2008 again caused major losses in both the amount of straw harvested and in reduced quality. In predicting the availability of good quality thatching straw during 2008 – 09 the problem is much worse than in 2007 - 08 because there is little if any straw in storage to make up any shortfall. This problem is likely to persist through 2009. At the beginning of 2009 some thatchers are already reporting that they are turning away any thatching work with straw because they are unable to obtain good quality straw to carry out the work
The problem extends well beyond the immediately identified 30 – 50% harvest losses across the UK. Post-harvest losses during the combing or threshing processing were higher than in a normal year. In the field, straw becomes brittle during successive wetting cycles, and during processing, bent straw does not pass easily through a comber, and for both combed wheat straw and long straw quality is compromised. The challenge for maintaining a viable future for thatch in any material not just straw is as great now as at any time in its history. Thatching has always been inextricably linked with the changing fortunes of the agricultural industry together with the vagaries of the weather.
In planning for the 2009 harvest, the difficulties facing growers of thatching straw were no different than those faced by farmers generally. Seed corn for planting last autumn, when it was available, had seriously reduced germination and much of the land was too wet for pre-planting preparation.
In media coverage last year, those wishing to avoid accepting the situation, cited previous short-term seasonal supplies. It is quite true that in the past, the thatching industry has faced poor harvests before with attendant straw shortages. Until 2008 these had been relatively short term and contained within one season to the next where the situation has been able to naturally resolve itself. In part this has been because thatchers were able to carry over supplies from previous years to make up any shortfall. It is also true that at points in the more distant past, specific events have caused major changes that have influenced the craft, the selection of materials and the perception of thatch and thatching forever. The introduction of the threshing machine and combine harvesters, each in their own way turned the suitability of straw for thatching away from a cheap by-product of main crop cereal production into a specialist niche crop grown specifically for its straw rather than the grain. For the past thirty years specific cereal varieties, with straw suitable for thatching have been selected and grown specifically for thatch.
Consequent to the National Society of Master Thatchers (NSMT) highlighting the problems with straw availability, the claim made by English Heritage, that the Society is deliberately trying to do away with straw thatching, is blatantly untrue and unsupported by any factual evidence. It is an unworthy approach from a National body who’s aim should be to work with the industry and conservation officers to find ways of making the best of a serious situation towards continuing to protect UK thatched properties in a viable and sustainable way.
In addition to the problems with straw production, there is emerging evidence of adverse reaction of some water reed thatch to changing climatic conditions. The NSMT is advocating keeping an open mind on choice and selection of materials, but in order to be sure of having suitable material in the future the society is also beginning to examine the possibility of alternative crops, such as flax, miscanthus, sorghum and veldt grass.
The reality is that of the major thatching straw growers surveyed for this report:
- Where the crop had been harvested, recovery of ex-field straw was down by at least 20%, processing losses were higher than normal.
- In Berkshire and Hampshire one major producer lost 200 acres of straw and is likely to cease production of thatching straw. Another large-scale producer only recovered 50%, his price will have to rise above 2007-8 by 30% just to break even.
- Where the crop had been harvested, recovery of ex-field straw was down by at least 20%, processing losses were higher than normal.
- In East Anglia a major producer lost 35% of the crop and in Bedfordshire promising crops of Triticale and Red Standard were lost.
- Eastern Europe is not going to be able to cover the shortage.
- The major supplier of seed for thatching straw, based in Devon, had very little Maris Widgeon or the Triticale variety Purdy available for planting last autumn.
- RAGT are no longer able to support Maris Widgeon on the National List, as it is no longer financially viable for seed production.
- The EU regulations covering the adoption of conservation cereal varieties for thatching are moving rapidly and should be in place by June 2009. To implement the new regulations DEFRA will want to see seed suppliers registered and for varieties offered for registration to comply with the original descriptions, held at NIAB. The definition of “local” in the legislation is for varieties grown anywhere in England and Wales. The NSMT is proposing to manage compliant paper work on behalf of its members, however this will not exclude anyone else wishing to produce varieties under the scheme.
- The NSMT will continue Triticale variety trials in conjunction with DEFRA and NIAB for 2009 harvesting.
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