Scotland’s cereal harvest set to reach 20 year high

The cereal harvested by Scotland's farmers this year is projected to be its highest in 20 years. Picture: Contributed

Farms in Scotland are estimated to produce 3.3 million tonnes of cereals this year, including two million tonnes of barley and one million tonnes of wheat.

Scotland’s chief statistician said that overall yields are on course to average around 7.3 tonnes per hectare; ranging from 6.2 for spring barley to 9.7 for wheat.

Oilseed rape yields are expected to average around 4.2 tonnes per hectare. The average cereal yield for the last 10 years is also seven per cent higher than in the previous decade.

Rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead said Scotland’s highest cereal harvest yield for 20 years was due to the hard work of those in the farming sector

He said: “This year’s cereal harvest estimates are testament to the professionalism and hard work of Scotland’s farmers.

“They are a great achievement, especially considering the poor growing conditions we have had in Scotland, with some parts of the country experiencing the wettest summer in a century.”