UK: Nitrogen high on Scottish spring barley

Scottish borders grower Stuart Fuller-Shapcott said harvest was going too quickly and crops were changing very fast. He finished cutting 88ha (220ac) of Optic, Cocktail and Oxbridge spring barley August 15 with yields at an average 6.25t/ha (2.5t/ac). But he said nitrogen levels were a little high. “They were right up on the limit but it is going in for malting,” Farmers Weekly Interactive released August 15.

Screenings were at 3% which he was pleased with on his heavy-land farm.

Mr Fuller-Shapcott was quite pleased with 4.5-4.75t/ha (1.8-1.9t/ac) of oilseed rape. Caracus, Victory and Astrid all yielded above the average of 3.75-4t/ha (1.5-1.6t/ac).

“There was no drying needed and the crop wasn’t too dry like others in the south have seen which is encouraging.”

He added: “I don’t think the crops will be affected by the early timing considering how the spring barley performed. But this will change if we get a downpour this week. Hagbergs will drop.”

• Crop: Spring barley
• Variety: Optic, Cocktail, Oxbridge
• Area: 88ha
• Yield: 6.25t/ha
• Quality: Screenings 3%

Norfolk farmer Graham Bunn said Cocktail spring barley had suffered from screenings at 10% due to the drought, leaving problems with malting. “It died before it had matured.” The crop yielded 6t/ha (2.4t/ac) over 150ha (375ac).

• Crop: Spring barley
• Variety: Cocktail
• Area: 150ha
• Yield: 6t/ha
• Quality: Screenings 10%

16 August, 2006