Scotland's harvest is currently running at least two weeks ahead of normal, with many of the earlier areas in the east almost finished with spring barley and winter wheat. By Ewan Pate and Hannah Binns.
Only later sown winter wheat following potatoes has yet to ripen fully.
The major growing areas in Aberdeenshire are not quite so far ahead, but combines are now at work in spring barley.
The early harvest has been a godsend for farmers concerned about the cost of running dryers this season.
Moisture levels have been at levels unheard of for Scotland, with oilseed rape typically harvested at 8 per cent, barley at 13 per cent and wheat at 14 percent.
Speaking on Monday (Aug 22), Robin Barron, general manager at the East of Scotland cooperative in Coupar Angus, said: Yields and quality have been good.
"Our members have harvested between 75 percent and 80 percent of their spring barley and probably about the same proportion of their wheat. Many were cutting early crops of wheat before spring barley which is unusual.
"Malting barley is good quality, with average grain nitrogen content around 1.4 per cent. Screenings are slightly higher than usual, but not of any concern. There have been very few if any rejections for any reason."
As regards the malting barley market, Mr Barron reckoned there would be a good demand, although at this stage maltsters were still assessing yields across the country.
Ahead
Meanwhile, across the UK, harvest 2022 is 89 per cent complete,well ahead of the five-year average of 52 per cent, AHDB cereal and oilseed analyst Olivia Bonser has said.
As of August 19, winter wheat GB harvest was estimated to be 92 per cent complete, with the majority of crops left to be cut in the North East and Scotland.
Combines were at work in spring barley, now at 73 per cent, while winter barley harvest was completed in the week ending August 9.
"Hot grain has continued to be an issue, with many farming only having to condition grain to reach cool enough temperatures for safe storage," Ms Bonser said.
"This has enabled many to save on fuel costs by not running the grain drier," she said.
"There has been a continued backlog of grain in stores, as haulage issues remain due to shortages of suitable lorries and drivers."
Rupert Somerscales, Agri-Analytics UK chief analyst, added of the 30 farmers they had surveyed across England, all reported their wheat harvest as being one and two weeks earlier than their five-year-average time scale.
"Bearing in mind the heat and dryness throughout July and August, this is not a surprise," he said.
"Noticeably, many farmers chose to harvest their crops during the evening, or even at night, to less the risk of combine fires and to lift moisture levels."
