Crop Updates: December 2024

 

 

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.

 

19 December 2024

 

General Comments

As we get to the end of 2024, arable crops in the ground now are generally in good condition and autumn field work was able to progress fairly well since rainfall was (thankfully) much less than in the back-end of 2023. It’s turned wetter and stormier and the swings in temperature have been excessive – from hard frosts through to double digit temperatures hardly seen in the summer, but despite this winter crops still look well, although some are now fairly waterlogged. Pigeons are starting to pick on oilseed rape but also still have plenty to eat elsewhere.  Frosts have been helpful in terms of nipping off early disease and any aphids but there are no particular issues being reported.

 

Regional Comments  

CAITHNESS

After good progress with autumn ploughing, high rainfall these past few weeks has put paid to that for a while.  Some fields now visibly waterlogged.  That said, winter crop in the ground still looks good after getting a great start to life.  Silage, hay and straw supplies in the area seem to be plentiful, no doubt helped by later cattle housing due to mild weather in November.

 

MORAY

A cold, frosty spell, unseasonably warm days and the tail end of a named storm have all appeared in December, but winter-sown crops are looking pretty well.  Winter oilseed rape crops seem to have grown away from earlier pigeon damage, winter barley crops are looking lush and strong whilst wheat crops are good although some are a bit thin and patchy.  Despite a lot less rainfall than the period October to December 2023, there are still some very waterlogged fields around the county.

 

INVERNESS

There has been a spell of late sown winter wheat given the recent favourable conditions.  A brief cold snap has been replaced by wet and mild conditions.  Although some heavy downpours have been seen, crops are standing up well and remain disease free and with weeds under control.

Winter barley showing at growth stage 23, as was the winter wheat.   Winter oilseed rape was withstanding small pressure from pigeons and slugs, but not to its detriment.

 

ABERDEENSHIRE

With the passing of the shortest day soon and the saying “as the days grow longer, the cold grows stronger” reminding us that there is most of the winter still ahead of us, growers have been taking advantage of the relatively calm, dry (and occasionally frosty) weather to get some winter ploughing done, with local ploughing matches even having been bathed in sunshine!  The open back-end weather has also allowed winter crops to enter this period in a relatively good condition allowing later sown crops to get well established.  The few wet days that we’ve had however still show up the wet bits in fields and remind us that drainage jobs still need attention.  With a lot of soil sampling having been done recently there will no doubt be a lot of lime spreading to do this spring and ordering of fertiliser to correct deficiencies helping improve crop yields in 2025.

 

BANFF & BUCHAN

With shorter days and colder, wetter weather there is not much happening in the fields at the moment, although any slight frost or consecutive dry days sees a flurry of tractors and ploughs out and turning over the soil for next year’s crops.  Falling prices, concerns over contracts for 2025 and rising costs are perhaps not making for the happiest of festive of periods for arable farmers although there does seem to be more of realisation of the costs involved with growing crops, with a few local farmers cutting some of the more expensive crops to grow from their rotations.  One positive is that winter crops on the whole are looking well, benefiting from the pleasant October and ploughing is ahead of last year.  For those growers with livestock, the buoyant trade for cattle and sheep will be highlighting the benefits of mixed farming in a financial sense at least.  Whatever happens in 2025, much will be dependent on mother nature and here’s hoping she is smiling on our corner next year and that prices pick up again.

 

KINCARDINESHIRE

A cold settled spell of weather has allowed winter ploughing to gather pace.  Winter crops are well established and looking well.  Disease being kept at bay by the frosty nights so no real worries.

 

FORFAR

Land is being blackened at quite a pace this year with winter ploughing able to proceed almost unhindered.  Crops continue to grow slowly, and slugs can still be found in a few susceptible fields.  Autumn herbicides are generally up to date as are light leaf spot sprays on oilseed rape.  A few people are trialling grazing more advanced crops with sheep in the area.

 

PERTHSHIRE

Kind weather is allowing crops to continue to grow and for ploughing to take place and the occasional later field of wheat has been sown after vegetables.  Crops are generally well advanced going into winter and look healthy.

 

FIFE

Winter wheats and winter barleys range from early tillering down to two leaf, overall they look healthy and, thanks to the frosts, don’t seem to have slug damage or aphid issues.  Oilseed rape has grown well prior to the frosts, weed control has been good and little sign of disease and pest damage.  Pigeons are starting to flight into any open patches, so bangers are starting to appear in some fields.  Winter ploughing is being carried out and a lot of FYM spread onto stubble has been ploughed down in the good frosty weather.  Hopefully weather patterns will remain winter like without any torrential downpours.

 

STIRLINGSHIRE

All cereals are looking well and relatively disease free.  All the early sown wheats and barleys are tillering well.  Later sown ones are a bit behind, and there were some very late ones due to the dry weather that could well struggle.  Oilseed rape is still growing well and clean.  However, several crops are now fending off pigeons who have decided it is an easy bite.  Winter beans where sown this backend are also looking well and strong.  The dry spell earlier has allowed a lot of winter ploughing to be done early.  There is much more ploughed now than there has been for many years.  After the recent rain however, it is looking wet.  Let’s hope there are a few decent frosts to break it down.

 

LANARKSHIRE

A very wet start to Autumn resulted in many farms bringing cattle in early, the temperature then increased, creating far milder conditions.  As a result, many farms put cattle back outside, meaning some cattle have only just recently returned to the shed. In addition, those who have clipped cattle inside and are also noticing increased sweating through the shed and pneumonia cases are rising.  Early winter crops throughout the district are also well underway with emerging.

Furthermore, forage crops are being used to feed fat lambs, many also being aided by additional feed to try and play catch up from the lack of grass growth through the summer months.

Posted by SAC Consulting on 20/12/2024