Potato lifting and winter crop drilling progress

Winter OSR are looking well and are having graminicide applications where required. Early sown winter cereals are also coming through well and so far, pre-emergence herbicides seem to have worked effectively.

Thoughts now turn to spring cropping plans, lime, and fertiliser requirements. Soil sampling when fields are stubble is the optimum time for collecting samples.

Orkney

Save for a few pockets of crop still to be tidied up, the 2024 spring barley harvest in Orkney is all but complete. Whilst at one stage conditions were beginning to jeopardise the entire success of the operation, the weather eventually settled to allow even those that had sown late to secure their grain and straw.

Yields are understandably back on normal due to the lack of summer weather, but all things considered, most will be satisfied. Few cattle have so far been housed, but grass is running out quickly, and if the rain returns as is expected, ground conditions will quickly see a mass evacuation of cattle inside.

Caithness

A very busy time over the period in the area as most growers completed harvest, with straw also being baled up too. From what seemed a precarious position a fortnight ago has vastly improved.

One of the main feedback items has been the quality of the grain as well as most very happy with yield. A lot of malting barley has already made its way down the road from Caithness. There are odd fields not combined in the area, but these are few and far between and are spring oats. Potatoes in the area, although limited, are being harvested in good conditions so far. Winter crop is looking well, having been sown in good conditions and in good time.

Moray

Before the weekend just past, there was probably in the region of 25-30% of spring barley crops unharvested across the region. A good weather window, Friday to Sunday, allowed most of that spring barley to be cut with straw being baled straight behind the combine in many cases.

However, there still would be around 5% uncut as we enter a week of miserable weather. Yields overall have been good and quality is excellent with low nitrogen levels a constant. Winter barley crops are through the ground now and are generally looking quite good, ranging from just emerged to 2-3 leaves. Some winter wheat has been sown with some yet to go in.

Winter oilseed rape crops are about the six to eight leave stage and growing away from slug damage in many cases. Most potato crops have been lifted and grading lines are now in full swing aiming to meet seed export deadlines. Carrot crops are in the process of being strawed down.

Aberdeenshire

With most (if not all) of the harvest complete now and the last of the winter crops getting sown, attention is now focusing on getting grain dried and sold.

The malting barley market appears a bit slow for those without contracts, and stories of rejections for various reasons are emerging – e.g. poor germination, splitting, ergot etc. Based on anecdotal evidence ergot would also appear to have a higher prevalence this year, which is also causing a headache for growers. Slugs also appear to be quite widespread (due to the wetter year) so monitoring of emerging crops is important. As the wetter colder weather starts to take hold finishing cattle are also beginning to get housed.

Banff and Buchan

Harvest is almost done in the northeast with last week seeing most farmers get finished up in terms of combining and baling.

The late finish and short days meant that moistures were higher than normal however yields have been better than hoped and quality seems to have held up. Straw yields have also been much better than expected.

The last of the winter barley has now been sown, which is much later than normal, with growers hoping for a favourable October weather-wise to allow crops to get established before winter. The late spring barley harvest means there is now a frantic scurry to sow the last of the EFA green manure crops. Cattle are now mostly inside with heavy rains taking its toll in ground conditions.

Oilseed rapes are looking very well overall although some of the later sown crops are playing catch up however most crops are past the critical stage for slugs and flea beetle. Graminicides are being applied to take out volunteer barleys.

Likewise, winter wheat and winter barley crops that were sown in early September have come away very well although ground conditions have meant that pre-emergence sprays have been missed.

Fife

Some 99% of harvest 2024 is now in the shed, there are a few fields of spring beans still to harvest but cereals are done apart from the drying.

Next years oilseed rapes, winter barleys and early wheats are in the ground with a lot of the early fields rowed up with good leaf cover. Oilseed rapes are looking lush with good weed control. Pigeons are so far leaving them alone as there are still easy pickings in stubbles.

Potato harvest continues at pace, with fields being harvested in good conditions are quickly being turned over and wheat sown.

Angus

The recent spell of settled weather has allowed a huge amount of land work to be carried out in a short space of time and most are now up to date with autumn drilling, herbicide spraying etc with some waiting on skins to set to allow potatoes to be lifted.

Oilseed rape crops range from first true leaf unfolded up to complete ground cover with thoughts moving to spraying for light leaf spot and rape winter stem weevil.

Winter crops are still being sown and whilst there has been some slug pressure, particularly behind OSR crops the pressure is lower than might have been expected after the wet summer.

Perthshire

Autumn drilling is carrying on at pace the rain at the weekend has been welcomed by many with crops freshened up, moisture helping for potato harvesting and also helping some of the heavier land make a decent seedbed.

Light leaf spot sprays are now going on to oilseed rape crops and most winter cereals are receiving timely autumn herbicide applications for which again the little bit of moisture has helped activate.

Stirlingshire

Harvest is complete including the spring beans. Ground continues to be worked as the dry spell continues and conditions are good.

All cereals that are germinating are looking complete with very few gaps.

No disease is present. Most winter cereals that have come through are at one true leaf. Oilseed rape is strong, and the most advanced ones are at seven true leaves, again clean. Winter beans have generally done well and are being sown again this backend.

Straw yield generally have been good and most baled. Most fields have now been cleared.

Lothians

After a long and protracted harvesting campaign there remains little other than beans still to cut. Many farmers have crops to dry in store and ergot contamination has been in evidence this year adding another cost to crop preparation.

Crops drilled to date look well, rapes are forward and will have good ground cover going into winter and cereal stands show promise in those earliest September drilled crops.

No early slug or disease pressures have been evidenced and with a fair acreage of wheat still to go in an open October is really needed to compensate for the delays imposed by harvest weather interruptions.

Borders

The last fortnight has seen cereal harvest completed with bean and potatoes harvesting still work in progress.

New crops are emerging from generally good seedbeds despite the 34mm of rain which has brought a temporary halt to field operations rather than days of delay.

Late sown rape is growing away from flea beetle with slug monitoring required across emerging crops.

Dumfries and Galloway

A good spell of weather has allowed for the last of the summer jobs to be completed.

Winter barley crops are all in the ground with most now up through and looking to have had good establishment. Grass growth and ground conditions are good for this time of year with most stock still out grazing. Some baled silage is also being made where fields need tidied up.

Autumn reseeds have had a good take with most looking very well and free from weeds.  Forage crops are not so exciting, with there being a mix of good to poor crops across the region. This is mainly due to the wet weather over the summer.

Lanarkshire

Weather continues to stay wet but mild within the area. Cereal harvest has been completed across the board, with many winter crops now sown in periods of drier weather.

Potato harvest is also complete across the region with yields proving acceptable considering the challenging conditions faced in the growing and harvest season. There is also a good supply of straw within the area, with round bales fetching £85/t and squares at £95/t.

Furthermore, feed barley is currently being sold off farm at £160/t.

The wetter weather has resulted in cattle coming into the sheds early due to a lack of grazing and poor ground conditions underfoot. There will be many that feel the pinch throughout the winter months due to a potential shortage of forage.

Ayrshire

Remaining spring barley crops have been harvested in dry spells over the last couple of weeks.

Some straw remains to be baled but overall, most of the grain is in. The dryer spell has helped dry up ground conditions and allow for cultivations for winter crops. Some earlier winter crops have started to emerge.

Despite the dryer weather, grass growth has slowed and for many farms cows will start to come into shed in the near future.