Scots farmers on course for record harvest despite weather woes

The news may come as surprise to many but the statistics to back up the claim come from Scotland’s Chief Statistician and are compiled using yield estimates from industry experts and crop areas from the June Agricultural Census.

The good year is mainly due to a predicted rise in total yield of two per cent which could lead to grain production increasing to 3.1 million tonnes.

Much of the boost comes from the 259,000 ha (639,730 ac) of spring barley which is estimated to have produced an excellent yield of 6.85 t/ha (2.77t/ac).

The total tonnage produced is up 15 per cent.

Spring oats also appear to have yielded well with production up by 11 per cent.

Winter cereals, not surprisingly given the poor establishment conditions in late 2019, performed less well.

Winter barley tonnage is estimated to have dropped by 21 per cent. Winter wheat was down by 13 per cent by area but still produced a decent average yield of 8.6 t/ha (3.48t/ac).

The oilseed rape tonnage is estimated not to have changed much with a three per cent reduction in area offset by a two per cent increase in yield.

NFU Scotland combinable crops committee chairman Willie Thomson said: “Yields for spring sown crops have been good but there have been a range of quality issues associated with the dry spring and wet summer that have led to significant rejections for malting and that has a significant impact on the value of the crop.