Crop updates: 25 September 2025

 

Our regular round up of the issues affecting crops around Scotland, summarises how crops are developing and what weather and other issues are affecting them.  The update provides information on the progress with key field work activities as well as news on the pest, weed and disease problems being noted in crops.  The health issues being seen in crops are a key part of the topical update and lets growers and agronomists adjust management practices appropriately.

 

25 September 2025

 

General Comments

For the majority for farmers, cereal and pulse harvest is complete, albeit the marketing  of malting barley remains difficult due to high screenings this year which in turn is putting downward pressure on feed barley values. For those with potatoes, lifting is in full swing. While rain stopped field work for a few days mid-September, the drilling of winter cereals has resumed at pace into good seedbeds with enough moisture for growth and effective residual weed control. Overnight temperatures have dropped considerably since the rains of last week but vigilance for pests, for example aphids in newly established winter barley, will require monitoring over the next 3-4 weeks. Winter oilseed rape crops are looking well in the main, although pockets of flea beetle damage are being reported in certain areas, but most crops have 4 true leaf’s or more and are growing away strongly. Further cuts of silage are being taken to bolster winter feeding stocks and perhaps a little later than usual in the season reflecting the poorer grass growth earlier in the season this year.  

 

Regional Comments

ORKNEY

2025 will be looked back on with fondness by most farmers in Orkney. Agriculture is massively influenced by weather and the unusually settled pattern of warm, dry conditions into which Orkney fell for much of the growing season provided an ideal backdrop. The large weather windows made workloads more manageable and reduced stress. Slight lack of water at times may have reduced grain yield for some, but the liveweights of the store cattle now being sold show livestock have thrived. Few if any days saw cattle standing in huddles with their backs to the weather, the result being many animals are hitting over 600kg at 18 months of age. Typically, at this time of year, high rainfall softens the ground resulting in a significant portion of the grass trampled into the mud and lost. This has not happened, enabling livestock to utilise a much higher percentage of the grass than normal.

 

CAITHNESS

Changes in weather over the period but winter sowing has been completed in excellent conditions. The early harvest has also meant green cover for those who need has been sown in good time and some have established. Still major concern regarding screenings for malting barley growers and then feed growers in the area with the threat of screenings flooding the market.

 

MORAY

There was some much-needed rain at the weekend, taking the monthly rainfall total so far to around 25mm. This has meant ideal travel conditions for spraying with oilseed rape herbicides and stubble clean-up operations before ploughing been carried out. The ground is dry and hard though posing some problems for ploughing. Winter oilseed rape crops are looking okay with just a touch of light leaf spot, although not as advanced as in previous years, most likely due to lack of moisture in the ground. Winter barley crops are just beginning to be established along with a couple of winter wheat fields. Cover crops have also emerged well and in most cases have formed an even cover across the fields.

 

INVERNESS

Over the last few weeks, we have seen more winter crops sown. The weather has been mostly cool and grey, with frequent cloud cover, scattered showers and temperatures peaking around 13-17 degrees with it being much cooler at night. The winter wheat which has been sown is clean, even and looking healthy – the consistent temperatures along with the scattered showers have helped the establishment of the crop well. The winter oil seed rape is also well established, healthy and even. Overall, there is no disease, or weeds present at the moment. The upcoming forecast looks to be cool and cloudy but with the occasional sunny spell. Temperature will generally range between 11-17 degrees during the day and lower at night.

 

ABERDEENSHIRE

So far, the light showery weather has been ideal conditions for getting winter crops established, providing sufficient moisture and warmth to initiate germination. Winter oilseed rape is starting to grow away from the initial danger of slugs and flea beetle attack, but later sown crops would still require constant monitoring as pockets of slugs and flea beetle are present. Grain dressers have still been busy these last few weeks as growers try to get screenings down to market requirements, but comments suggest grain movements off farm have been slow. Some growers are also running grain through driers to help improve bushel weights for marketing as feed barley later in the season. Potato lifting is in full swing now as well, but the dry soils are causing some harvesting issues. The showers have also helped to keep grass growing to enable livestock farmers to keep stock outside and limit the feeding of extra forage, which is just eating into winter stocks.

 

BANFF & BUCHAN

Despite the odd shower, everything remains very dry although there is most definitely a chill in the air as we pass the autumn equinox. The grain harvest may be done in the field although it is far from dusted with many growers still dressing barley to try meet market specifications and grain remaining on farm to be picked up. Oilseed rapes are now through the ground and while most fields are growing away nicely, the dry weather has seen establishment patchy in some fields, particularly those on shallower or lighter soils. Volunteer barleys are becoming more visible in fields and will soon get a graminicide, although most crops have come through the twin threats of slug and cabbage stem flea bettle. Winter barleys and wheats are being sown with the conditions meaning drills are making good progress. Elsewhere cover crops are being established both for ecological focus area and additional fodder crops. Potato lifting continues at pace and while the dry weather means progress is almost uninterrupted, the dry soils means that the potatoes are more susceptible to damage with some varieties worse than others. Although grass growth has slowed, feeding lambs are appearing in fields

 

KINCARDINESHIRE

A wetter and more unsettled couple of weeks have seen field work become a little more stop/start.  However, there is a lot of wheat and barley in the ground and starting to emerge. Oilseed rape has established well, with little sign of slugs or flee beetle so far. Volunteer cereals are thick though with many crops being treated. Potato harvest is progressing at pace with great conditions and winter cereals are being established behind these crops. Grass is still growing with some folk tidying up the last of their silage.

 

FIFE

Cereal harvest 2026 is completed, the struggles with marketing will continue for a while yet. Next year’s winter oilseed rape and winter barley are in and looking healthy, winter oilseed rape crops have shown little sign of insect damage so far and are now mostly at 2 true leaves or more. Winter barley has gone into well-made seedbeds and is germinating well as are early fields of winter wheat. Pre-emergent weed control is applied and with moisture in the soil should be working at its optimum. Potato harvest is moving along quickly so those looking to sow wheat after potatoes shouldn’t have too long to wait. A week or so of settled weather will allow a lot of autumn work to be completed.

Posted by SRUC on 30/09/2025