Cereal growers in line for extension to crop storage
Cereal growers struggling to get their grain moved in a year where uplift has been slowed by Covi dr estrictions and a fall in demand from ma lt st er sand distillers are set to gain a fourweek extension for the use of temporary storage sheds.
Under the far mass urance scheme Scottish Quality Crops, the use of these short-term storage sites is normally prohibited after the end of this month, however SQC executive director, Alistair Ewan yesterday said that the organisation was fully aware of the current situation.
“A derogation allowing an extension to the end of November will give growers time to push their buyers to get movements arranged in what is proving to be a tricky year - and at the moment we’re about 90% sure one will be granted.”
But he said that for many the extension was little more than a sticking plaster as the widespread use of cattle sheds to store crops over harvest meant that movement of on-farm grain was required sooner rather than later to get stock inside for the winter.
“We have discussed the issue with stakeholders including NFU and we expect to send a text out to producers next week informing them of the extension–but interestingly, to date, we have only heard from three growers who were concerned about the issue.”
But Ewan said that on top of the additional safeguards required to pick-up and deliver loads of grain, the degree to which Covid had affected the grain trade still hadn’t been fully grasped by some growers.
“I’ve spoken to several grain farmers who were surprised to find that the closure of pubs and restaurants due to the coronavirus restrictions has put real pressure on the drinks trade.
"And with demand for beer and whisky from these outlets slumping dramatically, this has knock-on consequences for the grain sector which relies heavily on continuing demand from the malting and distilling trade.”
He also revealed that as far as upcoming assessments were concerned, the assurance scheme would still require members to collect their NROSO points – adding that while the usual meetings for collecting the points were unlikely to take place, a get-round had been organised:
“Members of the scheme will now be able to gain their NRo SO points via an on-line workbook, followed up by a questionnaire. The answers will be in the workbook and once the questions have been correctly answered to a sufficient standard, the points will be awarded. “
And he added that by adding additional questions, SQ Chad secured the full 10 points required to meet the City and Guilds requirement:
“We hope this will allow our members to continue in the scheme while demonstrating that they have under taken the required continuous professional development.”
*Wheat futures prices continued to rise yesterday to contract highs, with the dry conditions in many areas – including the mid West of the USA supporting global wheat prices.
The AHDB said that the dryness was now the most widespread and intense for the mid-october period since 2012.