Scots harvest end near
Scots harvest end near
TWO weeks of almost unbroken dry weather, with some places experiencing their highest temperatures of the year, saw many Scottish growers finish cereal harvesting last weekend. But fog in the north-east left many crops there uncut.
Sole bright spot in a gloomy overall picture is that wheat yields and specific weights are generally better than last year. Spring barley is disappointing.
The cut off line on progress is Laurencekirk, Grampian.
In central Fife, Tayside and Perth, most spring barley and winter wheat is completed, says Dundee-based Alan Macaulay of Allied Grain. "The two good weeks up to Saturday were the saviour for many growers, and wheat yields round here are 0.25-0.5t/acre better than last year. But the news is not good further north."
Spring barley is only 90% done in Aberdeenshire, says Fraserburgh-based colleague Ian Keith, chairman of UKASTAs Scottish cereals committee. "And we have still got most of the wheat, spring rape and oats to do.
With some wheats lodged for eight weeks there is a huge range in specific weights, he notes. "We are seeing them from 50 to 80kg/hl."
Turriff-based Edward Rust of Dalgety agrees wheat quality and yields are very mixed, but generally better than expected. "A fair bit has been cut in the Black Isle." But over half the potential spring malting barley samples are failing, mainly because of high nitrogens and screenings.
Several sources, including Adrian Fisher of Glencore Grain, believe spring barley yields are at least 0.6t/ha (0.25t/acre) lower than last years sub-standard results.
Former barometer grower Doug Fowlie is fairly sure this is the one year in three when his spring barley does not go for malting. With four contract combines at Millhill, Longside, Peterhead he managed to clear 140ha (350 acres) of Prisma and Landlord in two days and finished all his wheat by Sep 21. But up to 40% of wheat in the area was uncut earlier this week, he estimated.