North Scotland seems to be escaping the worst of the weather, and Jim Whiteford has finished winter barley at Shandwick Mains, Tain, Inverness.

“We’ve got beautiful, sunny, blue skies – it’s been quite amazing listening to reports down South while we’re getting away with it,” he said.

The 16ha (40 acres) of Volume had yielded a record 10.5t/ha (4.3t/acre), coming in at 17% moisture and 62kg/hl.

Mr Whitehead had also cut 10ha (25 acres) of Castille oilseed rape, which averaged 4t/ha (1.6t/acre) and came off at 10% moisture.

That left 16ha (40 acres) of Cuillin, which would be ready by the middle of this week. “It had no light leaf spot spray and looks fine – if we can save a couple of sprays that’s great.”

Harvest was about a week ahead of last year, and the earliest spring barley would be sprayed off and ready to combine by the end of the week, he added.

“It looks pretty good – there’s a good crop to be had if the weather stays right.”

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Volume
Area: 16ha (40 acres)
Yield: 10.5t/ha (4.3t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: Castille
Area: 10ha (25 acres)
Yield: 4t/ha (1.6t/acre)