Harvest just being completed in some areas, with other areas well advanced in their autumn plantings.
Responses to NFU Scotland’s annual harvest survey from around the country highlight the impact that weather has had on Scottish crops.
More than 150 growers initially responded to the Union’s 31st consecutive annual survey and information on yields has been sent to Scottish Government who use the data, alongside data from other stakeholders, to produce early crop estimates for Scotland.
The average yields so far recorded by respondents to the NFUS harvest survey were: Spring barley, 6.29 tonnes per hectare (t/ha); Winter barley, 7.26 t/ha; Winter wheat, 8.51 t/ha; Winter oats, 7.3 t/ha; Spring oats, 6.96 t/ha; oilseed rape, 3.45 t/ha and rye, 7.0 t/ha.
Comments provided by respondents presented a very mixed picture from around Scotland. Some have described this year’s growing season and harvest as the toughest in 30 years, with a wet autumn and winter, followed by a late spring.
Harvesting conditions have also been tricky, with many being grateful for the good weather window in mid- to late September.
The huge variability in yields can be highlighted by some wheats yielding 6 t/ha in some areas whilst others yielding as high as 11 t/ha.
The better weather this autumn has seen that many, who had managed to harvest, also manage to get their winter crops in in good conditions, which has been a positive, and early establishment has been good.
NFU Scotland’s Combinable Crops Chair, Jack Stevenson, who farms in Banffshire said: “The common theme we heard across Scotland for harvest 2024 was huge variations in yield and quality.
“With record rainfall in some areas since October 2023, winter crops suffered almost from the moment they were planted.
“Spring crops have done better even though they were late in the ground. We had decent amounts of sunshine and growth in June and July, and some farmers have had bumper crops of spring barley.
“Early reports of grain analysis across the country indicated a wide variance in quality. Some grain required a lot of drying, with some having moistures as high as 24 per cent. Reports are that there has been quite a lot of barley has met the specification for malting.
“It has not been an easy year for Scottish growers and, when combined with the recent drop in price in the marketplace, many farmers will be asking themselves what to do next.
“We need to build confidence in the sector for the future, so that farmers see a fair return for all the efforts and resources that they put in to producing such high-quality products.”
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Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006