A very mixed picture of the 2023 harvest has emerged from NFU Scotland’s annual survey from around the country, highlighting the impact that weather has had on all crops.
Average yields recorded by respondents to the NFUS harvest survey were: Spring barley, 5.7 tonnes per hectare (t/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. Wet weather in recent weeks means that some areas, including parts of the North-East and the Borders, have still to complete their harvest and growers are desperate for a dry spell.
NFU Scotland’s combinable crops chairman, Willie Thomson, who farms near Longniddry in East Lothian said: “One trend clearly apparent from the results is how much better winter crops have fared this harvest when compared to spring-sown crops.
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“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. It has been a hard-won harvest this year, with lower prices set against the highest input costs ever seen. We will continue to assess what impact this is having on cash flow for Scotland’s arable farmers.”
Market round-up
Well-fleshed lambs at Newton Stewart yesterday met with strong demand, peaking at £146/head for Texels from High Boreland or 267p/kg for Beltexes from Barnean and Tormitchell, while leaner types were harder to cash. Mules sold to 243p/kg for Airiesknowe or to £116/head for Kirkmabreck, while ewes remained a steady trade, selling to £155 for Texel tups from Kildarroch. Ewes from GS McClymont once again topped the Blackie section at an average of £60/head and a peak of £75.
Well-fleshed, heavier lambs at Dumfries yesterday maintained recent levels, with 52.1kg-plus lambs averaging 235p/kg and selling to 241p/kg for Texels from East Polquhilter. Cast sheep continued to meet steady demand, with Texel tups from Maryfield selling to £198 and Texel cross ewes peaking at £100 for Chestnut Lodge.
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Calves at Carlisle yesterday sold to £650 for an outstanding dairy cross Simmental from East Drummodie while British Blue calves from Messrs Dun, Jeanfield peaked at £600. Angus bulls topped at £460 on four occasions while Messrs Fowlie, Guise Farm, topped the Limousin bull section at £415. Messrs Graham, Hillend, topped the Limousin heifers at £545 and Connell Farms led the Simmental section at £475. All classes of calves at Ayr were sharper on the week and sold to a peak of £560 for an Angus cross bull from Catcraig or to £450 for a British Blue cross from Davidston, and stirks sold to £1240 for Simmental cross bullocks from Bowfield. Prime cattle also met with demand, as heifers averaged 291p/kg or £1599/head, and bullocks averaged 283p/kg or £1474/head, with a top price of 315p/head for a Limousin bullock from North Boig.
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Lambs at Longtown on Tuesday sold to £118/head for Texels from East Foreshield, while feeding ewes sold to £110/head for Texels from Goslingmire. Hill ewes sold to £73 for Cheviots from Priesthaugh, while Blackies peaked at £68 for High Creoch. Easycare lambs topped the cast sheep section at £94 for Dolphinston.
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