Crop updates: November 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.
14 November 2025
General Comments
A positive start to the 2025/26 season for autumn sown crops. Establishment has been good across all areas and crops are now well rooted as winter approaches. Potatoes we’re lifted in a timely manner while soils were still workable and there remain only isolated instances where wheats may still be drilled. No significant reports of foliar diseases although Light Leaf Spot has been observed in oilseed rape. Cover crops have put on significant growth too in the warm temperatures. Livestock are now transitioning inside particularly given the more recent heavy rains.
Regional Comments
CAITHNESS
Ground conditions have certainly deteriorated in the past week or so and potato growers in the area are certainly delighted to have had potato crops lifted before the change and in good ground conditions. Winter crop is looking extremely good. More cattle are now being housed in the past week but with an increased cropping area and with a reduced livestock number, straw demand has seen a notable decline. Silage and hay stocks seem to be good.
ABERDEENSHIRE
With relatively mild conditions so far, winter crops and grass are still growing (all be it slower now). Small levels of diseases such as rhynchosporium and septoria can be seen in the forward cereal crops following the recent wet weather, but generally they would appear to be entering the winter in good condition. Oilseed rape crops have also had light leaf spot sprays and potatoes are nearly all lifted now. There appears to be lots of catch/cover crops growing in stubble fields this year as growers try different mixtures or just take the opportunity to try something different. The early harvest has fairly shown the potential catch crops can have when sown early enough. Some early sown cover crops are even flowering.
BANFF & BUCHAN
While the summer was characterised by a lack of rain it feels like the last month has more than made up for it with fields looking much more like we would expect to see them at this time of year – lot of puddles and plenty of mud. Potatoes are all lifted with the bumper crops hopefully safely stored. The winter crops have benefited from the mild weather and go into the winter in good shape. Oilseed rapes have received their autumn sprays with soils finally cold enough for some herbicides with fungicides also applied to prevent LLS. Ploughing for spring crops has begun although crop prospects and change to EFA rules have meant that more planning is taking place, with interest in other crops and indeed more winter crops having been sown. The wet and mild weather means any stock in fields are starting to poach. For those with housed stock, vigilance is the word with the weather meaning a greater risk of pneumonia in cattle.
FIFE
Winter oilseed rape is very forward but only showing low levels of light leaf spot, weed control has been good which is lucky as field conditions are now untravellable due to rain. Winter wheats range from first tiller (GS21) down to first leaf (GS11), the early fields all had pre-emergent weed control, but the later fields have not as they were sown between rain showers. Winter barley is around GS22, and low levels of mildew can be found in most fields. Stubbles are fairly green with volunteer cereals and vigorous weeds from the warm damp autumn. A cold frosty spell would be welcome.
ANGUS
Potato harvest is now complete and a few of these fields are still planned for winter wheat drilling if conditions allow over the next few weeks. Winter oilseed rape crops are well advanced with many at wellie boot height and light leaf spot sprays have been applied. Winter barley crops are also well advanced although a few fields are now a little yellow and looking for nitrogen as they continue to grow in this mild weather. Wheat crops range from new sown up to tillering with some of the more advanced crops planned to be grazed back by sheep over the winter.
PERTHSHIRE
Winter crops are now all drilled up and a change in the weather means it is unlikely that many more fields of wheat will be planted now. However, the good conditions up to now has meant that all planned winter cropping was sown into good ground conditions and these crops go into the winter in a strong position. Winter ploughing has begun on some farms, but many fields could do with some sharp frosts to kill off volunteer spring barley which is abundant across the area this year.
LOTHIANS
Autumn sown crops continue to look well. Soil temperatures remained above average well into October and while residual herbicide applications in cereals have worked well, the actives have degraded quickly and in certain circumstances a second herbicide application has been warranted for continued weed control over winter. Warm soil temperatures are still delaying the application of propyzamide in oilseed rape crops. The first heavy rains of the month came over the 12/13th November and up until this point, field operations including winter ploughing were continuing, unimpeded by the weather. Little sign of either pest or disease issues so far this autumn.
BORDERS
The wetter weather has delayed applications of herbicides to autumn crops and fungicide to oilseed rape. Crop establishment is generally good and field corner to corner. The unseasonally mild weather has allowed crops to further develop but has also triggered the emergence of foliar disease with all crops affected. The early harvest has seen an increase in autumn sown green covers with some generating good above ground biomass with abundant root to 10cm and tap root species to 20cm. The dry seed beds did delay some crops, and some species appear to have dominated over others. Winter ploughing is now the main field activity and progressing well.
LANARK
We have experienced an unusually mild but wet November in Lanarkshire so far with threats of a cold spell from this weekend onwards. Cattle are beginning to come inside with those that are in being clipped to try and control sweating during the milder period.
Winter crops are well established and are growing well across the district. Forage crops have also grown well with the milder, drier weather earlier in the year and lambs can be seen grazing in these fields across the region.
Posted by SRUC on 18/11/2025
