Harvest 2025: Spring barley underway in Scotland

A few damp days have put harvest on hold, but winter wheat and oats are starting to trickle into stores, with oilseed rape exceeding expectations in the North, while spring barley disappoints further south.

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Scotland

Harvest is progressing well in Perthshire, with both winter barley and oilseed rape yields coming in above the five-year average, says Neil McInnes, general manager at East of Scotland Farmers.

Oilseed rape has exceeded expectations, with strong yields and an average oil content just under 45%.

“Around 95% of the OSR is in store; it came in earlier than anticipated and has been very consistent,” he adds.

“The winter barley, all Craft, has also performed strongly.

“It was harvested earlier than usual, though not quite as early as we initially expected, and intake is now about 95% complete – we’re just waiting on the last loads into store.”

Looking ahead, winter wheat is shaping up to be an early crop, while spring barley is due to get under way this week.

“Everyone thought the season was going to be significantly earlier, but it’s not as early as they thought.”

Cornwall

Down near Bodmin, oats, oilseed rape and wheat are starting to trickle in at Kernow Grain, with just over 250t of oilseed rape and 600t of wheat received so far.

“Average moisture on the wheat is 15-15.5%, with oats around the same,” says Mike Champion, store manager.

“The quality of the oilseed rape is good at 45% oil content.”

After kicking off with a dry start to harvest, the store has received 3,500t of winter barley.

“We haven’t had to dry too much, and the average specific weights are 69kg/hl.

“In terms of screenings, everything has been good, with clean samples averaging 1.8% screenings.”

The store has received just over 5,000t in total, so is not quite halfway through intake.

“We’re expecting another 7,000t in total.”

Suffolk

Stephen Bumsted has cut a small amount of Gleam wheat at Greengates Farm near Kessingland, Suffolk, yielding about 8t/ha.

“It’s early days, but I’m a little worried about the weather,” he says.

“We have about 4ha left, and then 25ha of Cheer milling wheat.”

The 30ha of Kingsbarn winter barley is safely in the shed, having come off at 7.5-8t/ha.

“Specific weights have been holding up well, I haven’t seen anything under 78kg/hl and that’s off the headlands.

“The grain looks clean and plump.”