He has cut half of the 220ha (550 acre) spring barley crop so far. Optic was yielding 6.18t/ha (2.5 t/acre) and made malting quality. Nitrogen contents ranged between 1.45 to 1.67%.

“We‘ve got no real complaints. It was as good as we can get it.”

He is in the process of cutting his Chalice and thinks it will be yielding slightly higher than the Optic.

Mr Fowlie said he is having a very average year. Rainfall has been about average and the harvest is roughly on schedule.

“We‘ve been quite fortunate in this corner. Only ten miles further inland they‘ve had a lot of rain.”

His 56ha (140 acre) wheat crop is ready to harvest, but he is waiting to finish the spring barley before he starts cutting.

“We don‘t grow much wheat because it can be quite late up here. It‘s a bit of a gamble.”

All in all Mr Fowlie says his harvest is okay, but considering the type of harvest most of the UK has experienced, he is happy with the results.

“The physical side of it‘s been good, but financially it‘s been difficult. Prices are so bad.”