Scotland's Chief Statistician has released the first estimates of the 2015 Scottish cereal and oilseed rape harvest which revealed that yields are expected to be the best in 20 years.
Although parts of Scotland have still to complete harvest due to the late season, Scottish farms are forecast to produce 3.3m tonnes of cereals this year, including 2m tonnes of barley and 1m tonnes of wheat.
The figures show that the latest increase in production is due to an anticipated five per cent improvement in overall cereal yields over the past 12 months. The total area of land sown has decreased by four per cent, with 443,000 hectares (ha) grown this year. Overall yields are expected to average around 7.3 tonnes/ha - ranging from 6.2 for spring barley to 9.7 for wheat. Oilseed rape yields are expected to average around 4.2 tonnes/ha.
The longer term trend of improving yields continues, with the average cereal yield for the last 10 years seven per cent higher than in the previous decade.
Early estimates of the Scottish harvest come from the Scottish Government's annual Crop Report Meeting. Industry experts attending the meeting reported high production volumes but raised concerns over grain quality, with a high prevalence of grain skinning in spring barley and oilseed crops.
Poor weather conditions restricted crop development during the essential growth period which contributed to reduced quality in some cases. This year's harvest was late to start and, once underway, was halted several times by wet weather.
Spring barley is the only major cereal crop to see reduced production this year, with wheat replacing barley in some areas. While Scottish maltsters have relaxed quality margins to accept more of the Scottish crop, it is anticipated that there will be greater use of barley as animal feed this year.
Market round-up
Lawrie & Symington Ltd held their 2nd annual show and sale of suckled calves in Lanark on Tuesday when 417 heifers sold to £1700 per head and 680p per kg for the reserve champion from Allanton Farming to average £844.13 and 231.4p (-17p on the year), while 506 bullocks peaked at £1250 and 355.1p for the champion from Hartside Farms to level at £924.01 and 240.1p (-25p).
Wallets Marts sold 1495 prime lambs in Castle Douglas on Tuesday to a top of £76 per head and 192.9p per kg to average 140.6p (-3.6p on the week).
There were also 663 cast sheep forward when ewes sold to £92 for Beltex and £52 for Blackfaces.
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