The mixed weather this year has caused a wide variation in harvest yield and quality around Scotland.
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Scotland said that some respondents to its annual harvest survey this year described their harvest as brilliant, others described it as average and some said they found it very challenging.
Average yields recorded by respondents to the NFUS harvest survey were: Spring barley, 5.7t/ha; Winter wheat, 9.5 t/ha; Winter oats, 7.4 t/ha; Spring oats, 6.3 t/ha; oilseed rape, 3.9 t/ha and rye, 7.8 t/ha.
The union added that some farmers have yet to complete their harvest due to the wet weather in recent weeks.
NFU Scotland’s combinable crops chair, Willie Thomson, who farms near Longniddry in East Lothian commented: “The hot dry summer followed by a wet autumn has been far from ideal for some.
“The poor weather has not only delayed harvesting and planting but has also affected grain quality, particularly in spring barley, which is our biggest crop.”
Thomson said that a “clear” trend from the survey was that winter crops fared better than spring-sown crops.
“Winter crops sown in autumn 2022 came through into the spring in good condition and were well established and more resistant to the weather challenges that this year has brought,” he said.
“By comparison, spring crops have proven to be less resilient and for some around the country, we still desperately need a window in the weather for them to complete harvest.”
On the back of the wide variance in quality, Thomson said the union has contacted “key” malting and distilling stakeholders to highlight the challenges that weather has placed on its members, encouraging them to consider small changes to their requirements to ensure they can secure as much Scottish-grown barley as possible.
“It has been a hard-won harvest this year, with lower prices this season set against the highest input costs ever seen. On top of that, recent wet weather will have brought unwelcome drying costs as well,” he added.
“We will continue to assess what impact this is having on cashflow on Scottish arable farms and NFU Scotland’s third annual intentions survey, due to be launched at the end of the year, will identify if the combination of costs, market returns and a challenging year weather-wise have altered business plans for growers.”
