Crop Updates (8 August 2024): Many spring barleys are still very green so some way off harvest
Crop Updates
Our regular round up of the issues affecting crops around Scotland, summarises how crops are developing and what weather and other issues are affecting them. The update provides information on the progress with key field work activities as well as news on the pest, weed and disease problems being noted in crops. The health issues being seen in crops are a key part of the topical update and lets growers and agronomists adjust management practices appropriately.
08 August 2024
General Comments
Differences in wheat varieties are very visible with weaker varieties much more impacted by disease than newer more disease resistant varieties. Sooty moulds and ear disease are becoming evident in some crops and there are small patches of lodging in a few. Ramularia is common in spring barley crops which are otherwise still green. Leaf roll is common in ware crops.
Regional Comments
ORKNEY
Finally, the last 3 weeks have contained weather worthy of a summer season. Some lucky farmers have even made good quality hay and the warm conditions have given the grass a much-needed jump. Barley is now changing colour with ramularia and other leaf blemishing ailments easy to detect. Crops would be between medium milk and soft dough stages.
CAITHNESS
Still waiting for summer to hit the far north or perhaps it’s a case of hoping for a decent autumn now! That said temperatures have been better these past few weeks and there have been improved weather windows which has allowed winter harvest to get underway in the area. With barley coming in at 16.5% and straw being baled in good condition. Spring crops have really pushed on during the period and are looking extremely well. The limited crops of turnips in the area have greatly improved having looked very poor early on whilst potato crops in the area continue to look good. Some hay has been made now in the area but as normal now a greater proportion of wrapped silage. There should certainly be no shortage of fodder in the area.
MORAY
Over the past few weeks, weather conditions have improved considerably (less rain) allowing silage, hay and spraying operations to be carried out, and a lot of good hay seems to have been made. Many winter barley fields have now been cut with initial reports of below average yield. Probably not too surprising given the lack of sunlight. Low grain nitrogen levels seem to be a trend in these winter barley crops, not so good for many crops destined for grain distilling market and associated bonuses for higher N levels. Winter oilseed rape harvest has just started this week too. Winter wheat crops have turned colour, but grains are not hard yet. Spring barley crops look well on the whole although a few reports of blind grains present especially in fields of Laureate.
INVERNESS
The weather in the Inverness area has been warm but mixed. Temperatures have been in the high teens and low twenties; however, showers have been frequent. Winter Barley harvest is largely complete now with harvest complete in the spells of settled weather available. Spring barleys are mostly in the dough development stage, most at soft to mid dough although earlier crops are at milky ripe and the furthest on crops are being sprayed-off. OSR is harvest is also started in some parts and will soon be ready for harvest. Second cut silage has been progressing across the area as well with yields reported to be fair to good.
ABERDEENSHIRE
The last fortnight has seen a good spell of sunshine, with winter barley getting harvested, oilseed rape getting sprayed/swathed, and hay getting made. Early reports on winter barley yields are mixed as some fields (unaffected by washouts over the winter) have reasonable yields (>3.5t/ac), but many are not meeting this level due to thinner gappy areas reducing overall yields. The recent sunshine however will hopefully be helping to fill the grains of winter wheat and spring barley as they start to go ”on the turn” and ripen. Winter wheat may yet again be cut before spring barley in some areas. With the wetter weather earlier in July some fields of spring barley have also seen outbreaks of Tan Spot. Interestingly none of the fields where it was seen were min-tilled, suggesting it could have come from spores in the wind, or via seed infection.
BANFF & BUCHAN
Harvest has begun in the northeast corner with most winter barley crops now cut with average at best perhaps the best way to describe them. Thankfully, the last fortnight has seen fantastic harvest weather with crops needing very little drying, softening the blow of falling feed barley prices. Bushel weights of two row crops have been satisfactory however the lack of sunshine in June and early July has impacted on the quality of some six row crops. Most oilseed rape crops remain standing or in the swath although the next week or should see a lot of crops cleared. Swathing remains popular in the northeast with many producers having suffered in the past when desiccated crops at the point of harvest have experienced a hailstorm, heavy rain or high winds with fields quickly turning from light brown to white.
Winter wheats are turning and, in many cases, will be cut before the spring barleys, with septoria quite prominent in crops. The recent fine spell has come at the right time for the spring barleys, with much needed sunshine helping fill the grains. Heads appear to be quite short however, with some blind grain sites and ramularia can also be seen in crops.
FORFAR
Harvest is underway and mostly up to date with winter barley complete and combines are now into winter oilseed rape. Winter barley yields have been much as expected given the winter rainfall with yields average at best and many just happy to see the crop cut and start afresh with another crop. Winter wheat crops are coming on rapidly with the first fields having now received glyphosate and it looks like a fair bit of wheat will be cut before spring barley this year. There are thoughts on drilling oilseed rape now for those with empty fields but for those tending to grow WOSR after spring barley then there could be a few late sown fields of WOSR or a change of plan.
PERTHSHIRE
Combines have been out and cut the winter barley and are now into winter oilseed rape. Yields of winter barley are not particularly good but some of the winter oilseed rape crops are yielding better than expected but still not setting records with a good amount remaining still to be cut. Winter beans are now beginning to ripen off with the aid of chocolate spot and spring peas are just beginning to change colour. Spring barley crops look much better than what might have been expected given the late drilling dates with the earlier sown crops around the glyphosate timing. Winter wheat is similar or slightly more advanced than spring barley.
FIFE
Fife winter barley has mostly all been harvested; average yield and variable quality being reported. Hybrids seem to have a lot of light grains; straw volumes are said to be good. Some early WOSR has been harvested but still large areas waiting on a weather window to allow them to be cut. Winter wheat and spring barleys are ripening but still a few weeks away. Warm sunny weather with light breezes would be appreciated.
STIRLINGSHIRE
Harvest has begun with most winter barley crops now harvested. Winter oil seed rape harvest is more than halfway through, and most have got their Timothy hay baled. Initial WB yields do not appear to be anything exciting with poor WOSR yields reported from combine data. For this reason, many will not be growing WOSR next crop season as yields were also down last year. It has been a tricky start to harvest with small windows to get on with harvest as rain has always been on the horizon. Winter wheats are at GS92 and many have noticeable Alternaria in ears, the grains are hard and not far away from harvest. Many spring barley crops are looking a bit dirty, many crops are still green on awns and stems and need a few weeks of sunny weather for good grain-fill and ripening.
LOTHIANS
The first week of August has been characterised by warmer temperatures than those experienced in July. Intermittent rainfall, (with most areas seeing between 4-10mm so far in August), has been enough to give a stop start run on the oilseed rape harvest, although combines hit into a good acreage of rape on the first Saturday of the month in drying winds.
LANARKSHIRE
Lanarkshire had a fantastic dry spell last week, allowing many a chance to get their second and third cut silage in the pit and many could be seen making hay whilst the sun shone! Combines can be seen across the district with winter crops yielding well considering the turbulent weather conditions, with one farmer in the Sandilands area reporting a yield of 3t/ac.
Furthermore, the presence of grass weeds in both arable and pasture is still a problem, with many thick grass and broadleaved leaves coming above the canopy and likely to cause issues come harvest. Grazing fields are finally picking up following on from a bout of warm, dry weather.
AYRSHIRE
We have had mixed weather in Ayrshire over the past few weeks, but on the whole growing conditions have improved. Winter barley harvests have had mixed yields, with better straw yields than first anticipated. Spring Barley crops look promising but are in need of sun. Forage crops have established well but are also in need to sun to keep them growing. Some recent second cut silages have been lower yields than average.
DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY
The weather over the past two weeks has continued to be unsettled, however a few back-to-back dry days has allowed for most winter barley crops to be harvested. There have been mixed yield reports, but generally, grain yields have been lower than expected, with many crops struggling to achieve more than 3 t/acre. Spring barley crops are starting to ripen, with yields looking more promising. Second-cut grass yields have been disappointing due to the colder wetter weather, and very little hay has been made in the region.
STRANRAER
Winter barley harvest is still ongoing between the showers and in general yields appear to be average and very mixed. Winter wheat and spring barley harvests are still a bit off with some expecting to be a couple of weeks behind last year, putting pressure on Autumn cropping plans. Maize crops are the most concerning with crops ranging from 2ft to 6ft high. The lack of heat and sunshine is taking its toll. Grass growth is also still variable although thankfully growth rates have picked up over the last couple of weeks.
Posted by SAC Consulting on 12/08/2024
