Winter barley and wheat plantings were down in 2017, according to figures released by the Chief Statistician in the Scottish Government. Due to poor planting conditions, winter barley plantings were down 20% to 42,000 hectares, the lowest since the 1970s. Wheat plantings were back 11% to 93,000ha.

“This downturn in winter sowing is largely due to the dreadful harvest suffered by many farmers causing fields to not be cleared in time and poor planting conditions from the persistent rain during the summer and autumn months,” according to Ian Sands chair of NFUS’s Combinable Crops committee.

“Planned rotations have also been disrupted, which will have an ongoing impact on yields and on the scheduling of field work, including harvesting.”