Harvest is once again proving disastrous at Moray Estates, Elgin, Morayshire, with the weather causing dreadful crop damage throughout the season.

“Winter barley and oilseed rape yields are the worst I have had for many years,” said Martin Bridges.

“The barley suffered badly from frost heave over the winter, and we couldn’t get onto the wetter ground for any field operations.

“We had six inches of rain in 36 hours in early September when the rapeseed was just emerging. I ploughed out 14 acres and left the rest, and the yields really were not very clever.”

Mr Bridges had finished the Boost and Volume winter barley, with Volume performing the best.

And he was two thirds through his Mendel, Grace and Temple oilseed rape. “Harvest is about a week late now.

“We’ve some better ground left to cut, which isn’t quite ready. The Temple is the best variety by a mile. But we couldn’t get any herbicides on so there are a lot of weeds and some sclerotinia.”

With six inches of rain since the first week in July, the Oxbridge, Braemar, Belgravia, Concerto and Optic spring barley was suffering with fusarium, he added.

“The spring barley and wheat look alright. But I am worried about the quality if we keep getting rain.

“We haven’t had a good spell of weather for over a year now, and it’s really taken its toll on the crops.

“The weather pattern is uncannily like last year – we haven’t seen any sun since June. But at least the prices are better, so that will help.”