Harvest is about 85% complete at AJ Duncan Farms’ Muirden Farm, Turriff, Aberdeenshire.

Manager Sandy Norrie said he had a great week combining a fortnight ago, and cut many crops which were not quite ripe.

“The moisture started to go up rather than down, but I’m glad we did it, given the weather since then.”

A windy day today (14 September) was enabling combines to get on, albeit at high moisture levels, he said. “They’re talking of snow at the weekend, so I’d rather get it in the barn.”

Yields were slightly below last year, with winter barley averaging 9.4t/ha (3.8t/acre). Volume did particularly well, at 11.1t/ha (4.5t/acre) after wheat.

Temple, Cuillen and Mendel oilseed rape averaged 4.2t/ha (1.7t/acre), with Catriona spring barley yielding 7.2t/ha (2.9t/acre).

Viscount, Robigus, Alchemy and Riband winter wheat was yielding well so far, at 10.4t/ha (4.2t/acre).

Mr Norrie had 182ha (450 acres) of wheat and 60ha (150 acres) of spring barley left to cut, and had already sown 350ha (860 acres) of rapeseed, 260ha (640 acres) of winter barley and 120ha (300 acres) of early wheat.

Crop: Winter barley
Varieties: Volume and Retriever
Area: 690ha (1700 acres)
Yield: 9.4t/ha (3.8t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Varieties: Temple, Cuillen and Mendel
Area: 364ha (900 acres)
Yield: 4.2t/ha (1.7t/acre)

Crop: Spring barley
Variety: Catriona
Area: 24ha (60 acres)
Yield: 7.2t/ha (2.9t/acre)

Crop: Winter wheat
Varieties: Viscount, Robigus, Alchemy and Riband
Area: 250ha (620 acres)
Yield: 10.4t/ha (4.2t/acre)