Rain hampers harvest as crop yields show fall

Farming correspondent

Friday 7 September 2012

WEATHER has been kinder to farmers this week, but yesterday's rain once again stopped Scottish combines in their tracks in a harvest that limps along slowly.

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NEW moredun role Market round-up ROG WOOD

The recent spell of good weather allowed work to continue late into the night, but there is still a lot to do.

All across Scotland there have been complaints of combines getting mired to their axles in saturated fields.

Yield and quality of most crops are poorer than normal, with reports from Aberdeen of dismal yields and poor oil content in winter oilseed rape. Heavy, wet land in particular has taken the biggest hit, with some in the Borders complaining of spring barley yields as low as 1tonne/acre. High levels of disease and a lack of sunshine have led to poor grain quality with small skins and shrivelled grains across the country. The Lothians and Borders report that screenings of 20% in spring barley are not uncommon.The winter barley and oilseed rape harvest is now finished, with cutting of spring barley and winter wheat well under way in the southern half of Scotland, while further north those crops are slow to ripen.With the harvest delayed and ground conditions so wet, sowing of oilseed rape has fallen behind in many areas and there are now concerns that it may be getting too late.The Moredun Foundation appointed Ian Duncan Millar as its new chairman at its AGM yesterday. Mr Millar is a farmer from Aberfeldy with arable, beef, hill and low ground sheep. A qualified chartered surveyor and agricultural arbiter, he is also a former president of the Scottish Agricultural Arbiters and Valuers Association, and a past chairman of both Highland Glen lamb marketing co-operative and the Scottish Association of Sheep Health.Mr Millar replaces John Ross, who retired after serving his term as chairman.Lawrie and Symington had 6349 Blackface ewe lambs forward at their annual sale in Lanark on Wednesday. Strong, well-bred lambs were keenly bid for, with smaller hill-types, showing the effect of the wet summer, harder to cash.Top price on the day was £250 each for a pen of 20 from J Wight & Sons, Midlock, Crawford, followed at £220 for a pen of 15 from J & J Murray, Crossflatt, Muirkirk. The 6042 lambs sold levelled at £76.86 (-£8.79 on last year).United Auctions sold 665 store bullocks at Stirling on Wednesday to a top of 230.1p per kg and an average of 187.2p (-0.2p on the week), while 512 store heifers peaked at 224.4p and levelled at 185p (-3.7p).In the rough ring, 116 cast cows averaged 127.5p.The firm also sold 9194 store lambs. Top prices and averages: Suffolks to £74 and averaged £62.73 (+50p on the week); Texels £75 and £59.48 (-£1.78); Beltex £60 and £59.33 (-£5.43); Mules £64.50 and £54.81 (-£1.87); Blackfaces £62 and £44.54 (+£1.55).

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Rain hampers harvest as crop yields show fall

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