Near 30% hike in grain harvest

A 2 per cent increase in the area sown coupled with an average rise in yields of 26 per cent means Scotland’s grain harvest is likely to have risen by 29 per cent to 3.2 million tonnes this year.

That was the prediction made in the first official harvest estimate released yesterday by Scotland’s Chief Statistician.

The publication shows that spring barley, Scotland’s main cereal crop, is expected to see a rise in both yield and production, despite a 3 per cent drop in area – and while bushel weights had been low across the country, a yield increase of 21 per cent to 6.7 tonnes per hectare (t/ha) is expected to see overall production of the crop rise by 17 per cent.

But with an 8 per cent increase in area coupled with an estimated 36 per cent rise in yield to 9.3 t/ha, a 46 per cent increase in production was predicted for wheat.

Oat production was also predicted to have risen – by 20 per cent with yields up 21 per cent to 6.6 t/ha – but industry experts indicated the quality of the crop might be lower this year due to bushel weight and sprouting issues.

NFU Scotland policy manager Peter Loggie, who has collated the Union’s own harvest survey results for the past 25 years, said that while the union’s figures showed an increase in yield they were not as high as the official estimates.

“Last year, yields were depressed by the dry weather,” said Loggie. “This year’s crop got off to a better start and, until the wet harvest period, had looked to be excellent.”

He added that problems with haulage had been an issue for many growers

Loggie also added that the confirmation by the UK government that no tariffs would be charged on grain imports under a no deal Brexit – a move which would allow cheap grain to flood into the country while UK grain could face heavy levies – had added to producers’ fears and uncertainties over future markets.