A “bonnie clean crop” of Lomond turnips was crowned cream of the crop in the Royal Northern Agricultural Society’s (RNAS) turnip growing contest.
The annual contest, sponsored by Sandy Duguid from Murray Duguid Seed Merchants in Oldmeldrum, attracted 25 entries from across the north and north-east.
Leading the charge and impressing the judges to take the overall champion title was a crop of Lomond from immediate past RNAS president Rodney Blackhall, who farms with his brother Alex and family at I J Blackhall, Milton of Durris, Banchory.
The winning block was sown at Balbridie Farm on May 23 2019 into a stale seed bed.
“I normally like to have them in sooner but due to the weather conditions that was when they got in,” said Rodney.
Describing the winning entry as a “bonnie, clean crop”, he said it would be lifted in April for feeding to ewes and lambs.
The reserve overall title was awarded to another block of Lomond from the Blackhall family. The block was resown on June 4 last year after suffering flea beetle damage.
Rodney said both crops had been planted with a new drill with 18in spacings, as opposed to 22in in previous years.
Other prizes included the best non-LFA and best entrant from someone under 30 years old to Stewart Davidson, West Cortiecram, Mintlaw.
