Frustration is building on farms as the sowing of autumn crops is delayed and growers look for a break in the weather to complete 2019’s stop-start harvest.
After an outstanding start to the harvest, the interruptions caused by wet weather are now having an impact on the quality of crops still in the ground, with producers reporting sprouting and skinning in grains.
Meanwhile, the Farm Advisory Service (FAS) has issued a warning about the dangers posed by heavy straw bales after twice the normal rainfall fell in August in many parts of the country.
Balbeggie farmer Ian Sands, the farmers’ union’s combinable crops chairman, said his harvest had been at a standstill for a week.
“There have already been a number of rejections for malting and any barley not cut by now could be at risk,” he said.
“Similarly, a lot of oats are not good with some horror stories going around about oat crops still to be harvested and the weather still not picking up.”
In Angus, Euan Walker Munro reported 25% of harvest still to be cut.
He said: “We have wheat which has been ready for two weeks, so we are anticipating sprouting issues. We are now two weeks behind with sowing.”
The warnings about heavy bales came from Craig Bothwell of SAC Consulting which delivers the FAS programme.
He said 50mm of rain could add 50kg or more to the weight of a 1.2m round bale and the additional weight in one area can make bales unstable when stacking and carting.
He advised handling any straw bales which have been rained on in the same in the same way as wrapped bales of silage.
FAS also advises against overloading trailers or building stacks too high and ensuring bales are tied into the load and each load is fully strapped.
Other advice includes restricting loads to two bales high and making stacks one layer less, ensuring bale stacks are on a flat, firm and well-drained base to avoid water undermining the bales and causing a collapse, and avoiding climbing on stacks.
Farmers are also advised to reduce the risk of fire posed by damp straw with young grass in it by stacking it outside away from buildings and other stacks; treating it with a silage additive if it contains a significant amount of grass or applying an ammonia treatment.
nnicolson@thecourier.co.uk
