North & Scotland off to slow start
North & Scotland off to slow start
HARVEST has only just begun in the north and Scotland, according to Allied Grains Allan Macaulay.
"At 5% done we have barely scratched the surface with winter barley. Early samples are thin with low kilo weights and nitrogens in Pearl are very variable." Oilseed rape is still some way off, he adds.
With 500t of Siberia harvested before weekend rain FWs Scottish barometer farmer Robert Ramsays yields range from 8.2t/ha as a second cereal to over 10t/ha after peas.
Specific weights have been as low as the mid 50kg/hl. Only the farms de-awner, able to raise that to the low 60kg/hl, has made it marketable, says Mr Ramsay. "In general barley is poor."
Northern Ireland barometer farmer Robert Craig reports 20mm (0.75in) of rain on Monday onto already sodden land has put the brakes on any immediate progress in Ulster. *