The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Scotland set to reap bumper harvest
Scotland is on track for a bumper harvest despite the fact many growers are struggling to get combines near drenched fields.
The Scottish Government’s chief statistician yesterday released the first estimates for the 2017 Scottish cereal and oilseed rape harvest.
Estimates put harvest up 12% on last year at 3.1 million tonnes of cereals this year, including 1.9m tonnes of barley and a million tonnes of wheat – this is up 8% on the 10-year average.
Government said the increase was due to an expected 11% boost in overall cereal yields and a 1% boost in the total area of land sown to 1.069m acres.
Overall yields are expected to average a record high of 2.87 tonnes per acre, ranging from 2.51 tonnes per acre for spring barley to 3.64 tonnes per acre for wheat.
The amount of spring barley grown is expected to increase by 16% to 1.5m tonnes, with the yield expected to be the highest ever recorded, and winter barley production is likely to be up 13% to 371,000 tonnes.
Wheat production is up 7% to 998,000 tonnes, and this year’s oats crop is expected to top 215,000 tonnes for the first time since the 1970s.
Oilseed rape has rebounded from poor 2016 figures, with yields averaging more than 1.61 tonnes per acre, resulting in production of around 140,000 tonnes.
Government said final harvest estimates, which will take into account crops not yet harvested, will be published in December.
Rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing said he was pleased with the harvest estimates.
“Although many farmers have still to complete their harvest, this increase of around 330,000 tonnes on last includes a 14 per cent rise in barley yields, 7 per cent in wheat, and 3 per cent in oats – a third consecutive year of strong growth and representing the highest oats yield on record, as oat production reached its highest level since 1989,” added Mr Ewing.
“I am also pleased to note that this year’s oilseed crop has rebounded after the strong winds that affected last year’s harvest so badly, to record a 24 per cent increase in yields and a 38 per cent increase in production.
“Farmers should remain mindful of the importance of resilience and planning within their businesses and I would encourage them to consider the use of innovative techniques and best practices to help further increase efficiency and become more resilient to future challenges and shocks.”