Crop updates: 5 June 2025
Oilseed rape crops are tall and seem to be podding well.
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.
More details on crops in your area are available at Adopt-A-Crop.
05 June 2024
Confirmation came last week that there is a new strain of yellow rust about this season which can overcome a resistance gene found in the majority of popular wheat varieties.
General Comments
Rain has revived the fortunes of some crops, but it is a mixed picture. On the upside, potatoes, peas and beans look great, and flag leaves have unrolled in winter wheats. Spring crops have greened up too as fertiliser lying on the soil surface finally comes available. However, there are worries that the rainfall comes too late for some of the winter wheat and barley crops. The dry spell seems to have triggered many of the early drilled spring barley crops to leap through the growth stages and the worry now is that rain now will trigger a flush of secondary tillering such as we saw in the summer of 2023. Oilseed rape has had a prolonged flowering and seems to be podding well now and crops are often taller than usual.
Aphid levels are high across many crops, with large numbers being caught in traps as well. Spring barley crops are mainly very disease free but very short, with few tillers and, with awns already peeping, it looks to be a short and early season. Yellow rust in wheat varieties usually resistant has dogged this season and last week Niab confirmed that a new yellow rust strain is about. As feared, it can overcome a resistance gene present in many of the popular varieties. Oilseed rape crops look well although they are tall so might be tricky to combine. The prolonged flowering means that there are plenty of pods forming.
Regional Comments
ORKNEY
The rain which eventually fell has created a flush of broadleaved weeds in arable crops, but the changeable weather conditions is making it difficult for sprays to be applied. Spring barley crops are generally looking well -particularly those earlier sown. Grass is less abundant than last year, with farms on lighter, shallow soils worst off. Dairies have completed first cut silage and a handful of beef units have been making wrapped bales.
CAITHNESS
The hot and sultry days of April and early May seem a distant memory now. Rain has come and been welcomed but we are now being subjected to autumn like winds. Thankfully during the period there was some decent weather for sprayers to get on the ground. Very little disease is present but sprayers have been controlling weeds. Spring crops are certainly looking far better having had a good dose of rain. Silage making has commenced in the area, but yield will certainly be down and the forecast for later cutting is for lower yields.
MORAY
At the end of the driest and sunniest spring on record we have finally had some rain, and quite a bit of it in some places. Which that has been welcomed by producers, there is concern that there will be shortages of silage, grain and straw later this year. Grass shut off for silage has had to be grazed in many parts and yields from fields that have been cut are poor. Meanwhile winter barley crops seem to have raced through the growth stages and gone from awns peeping through and past flowering in no time. Spring barley too has advanced to flag leaf, and awns out in some crops, quite quickly and whilst most crops are very clean and disease free there are very few tillers present. Winter oilseed rape crops on the other hand are filling pods nicely and look to have good potential for a good yield. Winter wheat crops have now started flowering and look good overall.
INVERNESS
Over the past two weeks, the weather has been quite varied. The last week, brought heavy and frequent showers, accompanied by mild, warm temperatures. These showers have been highly beneficial for crop development as crops were beginning to struggle. In the spring barley we are beginning to see the start of the first awns emerging with the flag leaf visible in most fields. Oilseed rape is well beyond the flowering stage, pods are now filling and approaching ripening. Winter wheat is very clean and healthy with the ear almost half above the flag leaf. Overall, the crops show little to no signs of disease or weed presence, and the recent rainfall has been highly beneficial. The forecast for the next few weeks looks to be unsettled with spells of heavy showers and strong winds, however towards the middle of June there is a chance that warmer weather could return. Following a long dry spell of weather the showers forecast will help the crops continue to develop.
ABERDEENSHIRE
Just as we start in June the weather gets changeable and spraying windows get difficult to find, due to either wind or rain showers. Traces of rhynchosporium can be seen is some spring barley crops, but the majority are clean, and the speed at which spring barley has been going through the growth stages has caught growers attention this year, as it has felt as though T1 sprays were just applied and then the awns have been peeping in some crops before the end of May. Cereal leaf miners are also beginning to be seen in crops, but generally not at levels needing treatment. The heads in winter wheat have also started to emerge adding to the list of spraying jobs in this changeable weather and reports of rust lurking in wheat crops remain as it has been ideal weather for disease to develop. The rain showers are mostly welcome to keep a bit of moisture in the soil, but as mowers start to come out in force now for silage, it provides a bit of a headache for livestock producers. The rain however will be helpful for potato farmers as crops begin tuber initiation.
BANFF & BUCHAN
Like the rest of the country, the Buchan area finally received some much-needed rain. Whether it was too little, too late or just in time remains to be seen although spring crops have undoubtedly turned a much healthier and deeper shade of green. Tiller numbers are disappointing however although the rain should mean that those tillers remaining are viable. Spring barley crops are a mix of the good, the bad and the ugly depending on sowing date and soil type with crops on heavier clays particularly struggling. Several growers had held off applying weed sprays as the lack of rain had seen crops very stressed along with fears over efficacy. After a long spell of ideal spraying weather, we are now in the situation that sprayer operators are looking for suitable windows between showers to get sprays on, as crops continue to race through the growth stages with the first of the crops at awns peeping, quite a bit earlier than average. Thankfully, disease pressure has been low so far although there is some concern that ramularia could rear its head given the stressed nature of many crops earlier in the season. Winter barleys are flowering; winter wheats will soon be at ear emergence and oilseed rapes have lost their flowers. Potato crops are emerging, enjoying the sunshine although the combination of showers and warm weather will increase the risk of blight.
ANGUS
Rainfall has been welcomed by all but has come around 10 days too late for many spring barley crops which suffered in the dry spell and now look short and thin. To make matters worse cereal leaf miner grubs are present in quite large numbers and aphids can be found on many wheat crops also. Winter crops look much better than spring crops and the rain will hopefully ensure enough moisture to fill grains.
PERTHSHIRE
Significant rainfall over the last couple of weeks has made crops look much better although spring barley on light land has already dropped tillers and look thin and short but on the whole crops look well. Winter oilseed rape is now at seeds expanding. Winter barley is well through grain filling and wheat is at ears emerging and flowering.
FIFE
After a wet weekend and an unsettled week, with wind and rain showers crops are looking less stressed. Some winter barley crops lost tillers to the drought but overall, they still look good with large heads. Winter wheats seemed to stand up well to the drought and have come through it looking healthy (apart from those that got hit by yellow rust). Spring barleys are a mixed bag, some look fantastic, especially on ground that had FYM, others look decidedly thin and stunted where sandy or thin soils have not provided enough moisture. Disease levels are quite low, and most wheats are approaching T3, and spring barleys are getting towards awns peeping. When the winds drop and showers move away eastward, many sprayers will venture out into these fields to apply head sprays to preserve quality to go into what could prove to be a tricky market this harvest.
STIRLINGSHIRE
Recent rainfall has accelerated growth across all winter crops, which are now advancing rapidly through their growth stages. There's a wide variation in crop condition, with some fields remaining exceptionally clean, while others particularly winter wheat are showing significant pressure from yellow rust! This is especially evident where fungicide programmes have been less robust. Spring barley crops are generally clean, though plants remain short in stature flag leaves are out. Second-cut silage looks promising, with good regrowth’s thanks to the current combination of fertiliser, moisture and humidity. The cereal leaf beetles are now commonly observed in both wheat and barley crops doing minor damage. Oilseed rape has reached the pod-filling stage and is progressing well, although some crops have sustained minor damage from pests such cabbage stem flea beetle and pod midge.
LOTHIANS
A change in the weather to blustery showers has been welcomed by all over the last couple of weeks and most areas will have seen 25-35mm rain through May. Broad leaved weed control in spring sown crops has been difficult with the dry weather with some weeds establishing whilst other remain dormant. In many cases the rapid crop growth has done its job in outcompeting weeds for light and omitting the need to spray. Spring barleys have raced up to and through T2 timings and similarly spring oats have panicles emerging. The weather seems to be favourable for aphids with the pest noticeable on leaves and ears alike. Yellow rust in wheats appears to have been well controlled although mildew is persistent in the lower canopy. The more forward wheats are now starting to flower and are due the T3 fungicide. Silaging continues at pace and farmers will be hoping for a good second cut to offset the current shortfall where first cuts have already been taken.
BORDERS
Rainfall at St Boswells for May totalled 34mm with a further 6mm in the first few days of June. The May rainfall all came in the last week and for most crops and grassland it came just in time.
Crops continue to race through growth stages with seeds developing in winter oilseed rape, winter barley at milky ripe, winter wheat flowering, winter oats heads fully emerged and spring barley and oats at awns peeping/heads emerging. Disease levels in barley, oats and oilseed rape are low. Yellow rust continues to be the main challenge in wheat crops, but earlier sprays seem to have this now under control. Septoria levels are starting rise but remain at low levels. The showery and windy conditions are causing delaying to T2 spays in spring crops and T3 head sprays.
LANARKSHIRE
Weather has finally broke across Lanarkshire leading to some wet and windy days. However, many aren’t complaining as crops were well in need of a drink. In terms of cereals in the district there are not many complaints. Crops are looking well after some rain and spring crops don’t appear to have been too stressed by the dry weather. Complaints and grumbles are more focused on grass this week. Many are still short as the recent rain fall hasn’t provided the boost many were hoping for, those yet to take a first cut may find yields back on previous years, perhaps leading more people to take extra cuts.
AYRSHIRE
The dry spell has broken, and Ayrshire had a very different, far more humid, climate over the past fortnight. The total rainfall at the nearest weather station to the barley sites has been 56mm over the past 2 weeks, a stark contrast to the 0mm over the previous 2 weeks. The average temperature has been 11°C. Some of the observed crops are showing a higher level of pest and disease damage than previously, most significantly from slugs and cereal leaf beetle larvae. There is an increasing level observable ramularia and Ryhncosporium but mostly confined to the lower leaves. Spring barley is in the stem extension stage ranging from GS31- GS32. The winter barley has reached GS61-62 start of flowering following complete ear emergence. Sprays have been applied to the spring barley in the past week to protect against the advancement of the leaf disease.
STRANRAER
The long-awaited rain arrived on the 23rd May with many breathing a sigh of relief. Winter crops are racing on and expected to be 7-10 days ahead of last year but there is concern about the impact on grain and straw yield. Most spring crops and spring grass reseeds will have received rain just in time to keep them going on. Silage crop yields have been variable with many cutting early to take quality and then reset in time for rain. Grasses are recovering and it is expected grass growth rates will improve over the coming weeks and hopefully make up for any shortfalls in 1st cuts. Early drilled forage crops have been slow to germinate with the lack of soil moisture but should come away now that there has been some regular rainfall. Grassland which has been burnt off will take time to recover and some areas may need some overseeding.
Posted by Charlie Pearson on 11/06/2025
