One of Scotland’s premier farming organisations has celebrated some of the best of North east agriculture thanks to its latest round of awards for cereal crops.

The Royal Northern Agricultural Society (RNAS) annual cereals competition was won by a crop of Kingston winter barley from AJ Duncan, Turriff. Whilst the business has grown hybrid barley for more than 15 years, the Kingston variety has been grown for the past five years due to its suitability for the land where yield this harvest averaged 4.1 tonnes per acre whilst the winning field returned 4.5t/acre

AJ Duncan/Duncan Arable Farms encompasses almost 7000 acres of combinable crops which are primarily used as chicken feed as well as oil seed rape, malting spring barley and oats for milling. Beans for soya replacement were introduced three years ago as part of a drive to create a carbon neutral egg for supermarkets.

Judge George Green from Daviot found his reserve champion in Bamford winter wheat from I and N Campbell, Kirkton, Kinellar whilst the best LFA crop was Diablo malting spring barley from Robert Murray, Tullynessle, Alford.

Commenting on this year’s competition, RNAS president Cameron MacIver said: “This annual competition, which goes from strength to strength each year, provides an important showcase for some of the excellent crop husbandry in the North East of Scotland.”

Leading Awards

Winter barley – 1, AJ Duncan, Muirden, Turriff (Kingston) 2= JY Middleton and Sons, Balbegno, Fettercairn (Caravelle) and S Norrie, Woodside of Wrae, Turriff (Tardis).

Winter wheat – 1, I and N Campbell, Kirkton, Kinellar (Bamford); 2= A Reid,Mains of Newton, Laurencekirk (Typhoon) and S Norrie, Cairnhill, Turriff (Byinsitor) and S Norrie, Woodside of Wrae, Turriff (Dawsum) and D Green, Craigiewell, Woodhead, Turriff (Champion).

Spring oats – 1, RA Murray, Scotsmill, Tullynessle, Alford (Merlin); 2, J Shepherd, Murphiehowe, Drumoak (Canyon); 3= N Gall, Home Farm, Kininmonth (Merlin) and I Wilson, Stracathro Estate, Laurencekirk (Conway).

Spring malt – 1, J Steel, Wickerinn, Raemoir, Banchory (Laureate); 2= JY Middleton and Sons Balbegno, Fettercairn (Laurette) and RA Murray, Scotsmill, Tullynessle, Alford (Diablo).

Spring feed – 1, AJ Duncan, Ardfour, Turriff (Laureate); 2= J and E Forrester,Aldie, Cruden Bay (Planet) and S Ross, Craskins, Tarland and C and A Findlay, Turfhillock, Drummuir (Propino).