Atrocious weather has continued to hamper farmers’ efforts to cut crops in Aberdeenshire, but prospects for this week look brighter.

Bruce Ferguson, manager at Aberdeen Grain, said Friday’s (29 September) wind and rain caused significant damage to spring barley crops.

“We didn’t have a good week last week, and spring barley quality is struggling. We’re starting to see some real damage now.”

Farmers in the area still had about 15% of spring barley and 40-50% of their wheat left to cut, said Mr Ferguson.

“Generally, the wheat has held up – if we can get it in this week it will be okay. There is some evidence of sprouting but not too much.”

Wheat cut last week had come in at 27-30% moisture. But better weather today (4 October) meant combines were rolling again – and were likely to continue cutting this week, he added.

“Hopefully we’ll get at least a couple of dry days and get through a lot of what’s left – by Friday it may be a very different picture.”