Jim Whiteford has finished harvest at Shandwick Mains, Castlecraig Nigg, Tain, Inverness, with yields generally slightly below last year.

“We had a good two weeks of weather but at the weekend it went back to squally showers.”

Waggon feed barley yielded 6.2t/ha (2.5t/acre) – 0.7t/ha (0.3t/acre) less than last year, due in part to a very dry June, he said.

Volume winter barley did well, however, at 9.6t/ha (3.9t/acre).

Optic spring barley was also pleasing, yielding 7.2t/ha (2.9t/acre), slightly less than last year, but with excellent quality.

The 26ha (65 acres) of oilseed rape proved disappointing, at 4t/ha (1.6t/acre).

“But wheat was an absolute stunner, at 11.4t/ha (4.6t/acre). I am very impressed with Viscount – there was lots of seed and not too much straw to slow the harvester.”

Crop: Winter wheat
Variety: Viscount
Area: 71ha (176 acres)
Yield: 11.4t/ha (4.6t/acre)

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Volume
Area: 16ha (40 acres)
Yield: 9.6t/ha (3.9t/acre)

Variety: Waggon
Area: 83ha (206 acres)
Yield: 6.2t/ha (2.5t/acre).

Crop: Spring barley
Variety: Optic
Area: 73ha (180 acres)
Yield: 7.2t/ha (2.9t/acre)