Harvest is stuttering across Scotland as bands of rain continue to hit the country, preventing combines and bailers from getting going.

Anecdotally, grain merchants are stating that there is between 25% and 35% of the country left to cut.

Banffshire

“We had 40mm of rain on Tuesday night with local flooding, and the Burn has burst its banks,” said Peter MacDonald in Banffshire.

“Water is lying in tattie and stubble parks. The northeast could have 40% left to cut. What is unusual is that, in 40-odd years, we have never had such long periods of wet weather, then such a short period dry. We are barely getting 24 to 36 hours’ break between showers.”

Black Isle

Further north, Rory McKenzie, who farms on the Black Isle, said: “Personally, we have 25% cut so far, and the yields have been good. It has been quite slow as we wait for a break in the weather. Last week we were cutting barley at 23% and happy to get it into the shed.

“I am delighted with the straw quality and amount, but it will be wet. Some has been lying for two weeks. We could do with a fortnight of dry weather.”

Fife

In the Kingdom of Fife the wet weather is also taking its toll. Bruce Lang, from Starr Farm, said: “Harvest has been very variable here. We have not seen any sprouting yet in the crops, but there is definitely some pre-sprouting happening in the seed crops.

“Straw quality has been very variable. We have great-quality straw from our oat crop, but some wheat straw has been short and poor quality. These new modern rotary combines crush the straw to bits, and it comes out broken and difficult to bail.

“You can’t roll them out, it is just mush. Straw could be in short supply this year,” added Bruce.

Borders

Sprouting is also a concern for farmers in the Borders. According to Robert Neill: “We have wheat that is ready to cut and it won’t be long until it could start to sprout. I am avoiding going to the field because there is nothing we can do, and I don’t want to disappoint myself.

“The weather has been so changeable, not a huge amount of rain but enough to keep it wet. We have 260 acres of cereals left to cut, out of a total of 850 acres. Plus 100 acres of straw lying. I have heard of quality issues with skinning, especially with concerto,” said Neill.

Ayrshire

Across in Ayrshire, Jimmy Ireland said: “I have put the combine back in the shed because I don’t know when I will need to get it out. This is hopeless. It’s not happening right now. We’ve had very wet weather with only the odd dry day and need a good few dry days to get moving again.

“Winter crops have been very good – maybe light on straw, but good on grain. Spring crops are not the best. The wet June damaged crops, meaning 2017 won’t be a bumper crop. There is a big premium on the price of barley.

“Plus some folk are paying £97 a tonne for straw delivered. I am hearing of £15 a round bale off the field for spring barley, which is eye watering – remember: this is before we get into winter.”

Ministerial visit

Scotland’s environment secretary, Roseanna Cunningham, visited Ian Sand’s farm in Perthshire in conjunction with NFUS to see how difficult it is proving to get this year’s crops in and to hear from the union how the government can support farmers through better environmental policy after Brexit.