Consumers ‘misled on honey and so-called healthier syrups’
Consumers are being misled by food packaging claims into thinking that honey is a healthy alternative to table sugar, campaigners have warned.
Cereals
New RL varieties give ‘exceptional untreated yield’
New cereals and oilseeds varieties with “remarkable untreated yields” feature in the latest AHDB Recommended Lists (RL).
Scottish cereals production expected to be down 9%
Difficult weather and a decrease in the amount of cereals grown have been blamed for an estimated 9% decrease in production this season.
Aspen spring oats crowned cream of the crop in RNAS contest
A 22-acre block of Aspen spring oats has been crowned cream of the crop in the Royal Northern Agricultural Society’s annual growing cereals competition.
Scottish spring barley acreage up 5%
Scottish growers are moving away from winter barley to spring varieties, according to AHDB.
Winter barley in the spotlight at Cereals in Practice
Winter barley has historically made little impact on the Scottish malting market but that could be about to change, according to Dr Bill Thomas of the James Hutton Institute (JHI).
EU farmers’ unions call for help over drought
The hot, dry weather is causing concern for cereals and potato producers in Scotland, but in parts of central Europe and Scandinavia farmers are warning of the catastrophic consequences of a severe drought.
Propino spring barley named cream of the crop in RNAS contest
A block of Propino spring barley has been crowned cream of the crop in this year’s Royal Northern Agricultural Society (RNAS) growing cereals competition.
Top notch barley and wheat rewarded in Turriff and Fettercairn Show contests
The farmers with some of the best blocks of barley and wheat this season have been unveiled by two agricultural shows in the north-east.
Scottish spring barley area remains at 10-year low
The amount of spring barley being grown by Scots farmers remains at a 10-year low, according to AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds.
UK cereals industry urged not to sleepwalk into Brexit
The UK cereals industry will today be warned not to sleepwalk into Brexit.
Black Isle monitor farm focus on micronutrients in crops
The importance of soil micronutrients when growing spring barley was emphasised at a recent Monitor Farm meeting in the Black Isle.
Scottish grain yields in 11% slump
The Scottish Government's final estimates for harvest 2016 confirm disappointing yields with the amount of cereals produced down 11% on last year and 5% below the 10-year average. Figures from Scotland's chief statistician reveal Scottish farmers produced 2.8million tonnes of cereals in the year, including 1.6million tonnes of barley and 900,000 tonnes of wheat. There had been no catastrophic weather condition responsible for the drop in production, but instead “less than ideal factors affecting the seedbed, growing conditions and the final harvest". There was an 8% fall in overall cereal yields to an average of 2.59 tonnes per acre, ranging from 2.18 tonnes per acre for spring barley to 3.39 tonnes per acre for wheat. This was against a 3% decrease in the area of land sown for cereals to 1.057million acres. Spring barley production was at its lowest level since 1997 and down 15% on 2015 to 1.3million tonnes. Winter barley production is also down 19% to 329,000 tonnes, while wheat is back 9% to 926,000 tonnes. Production of oats increased to 200,000 tonnes – the first increase since the 1970s. It was a “particularly poor year" for oilseed rape with yields averaging 1.33 tonnes per acre resulting in the lowest production since records began in 1992, at 102,000 tonnes.
New soft wheat varieties added to recommended lists
Cereals farmers who aim for premium distilling markets will finally have new soft wheat varieties to choose from next season.
Scottish farm employment at lowest level on record
The number of people employed on agricultural holdings is at the lowest level on record, according to government figures.
Dismal Scottish harvest as production hits an 18-year low
Early indications from Scotland's cereal and oilseed rape harvest have painted 2016 as a particularly dismal year.
Swinney backs bid for £40m international barley hub in Scotland
The James Hutton Institute's (JHI) two-year campaign to create a £40million international barley hub has taken a stride forward with the backing of Deputy First Minister John Swinney.
Warning over crop spraying standards as grain rejected
Scottish farmers who have failed to comply with crop spraying legislation introduced last year are falling foul of assurance auditors this harvest and have had their grain rejected for premium markets.
Winter barley seizes Turriff Show cereals competition
A 35-acre field of winter barley has landed north-east farmer Sandy Norrie the champion title in this year's Turriff Show cereals competition.
Bleak outlook for arable sector profitability for Harvest 2016
Arable farmers could be in for another tricky season with production predicted to outstrip demand once more.
Better harvest helps grain trader get back into profit
Britain's largest farmer-owned arable trading business is back in the black.
Lower yields mean Scottish cereals harvest not a record
Yields from this year's cereal harvest are 5% lower than expected dashing hopes 2015 would be a record-breaker.
Scottish harvest set for best yields in 20 years
Scotland is set for the best harvest in 20 years in terms of yields, according to government figures.
Summer washout putting damper on north and north-east farming
Wet weather is putting a damper on work across farms in the north and north-east.
Field of Concerto barley crowned cream of crop
A block of Concerto spring barley has been crowned champion in this year's Royal Northern Agricultural Society (RNAS) growing cereals competition.
EU farming body predicts 7.5% drop in cereals production
A lack of plant protection products is likely to result in a drop in EU cereals production this year, claims Copa-Cogeca.
Scottish farmers growing more wheat
Scottish growers have opted to grow more wheat and less barley this year, according to figures from AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds.
Cereals in Practice focuses on end user of grain
Producing grain to meet the needs of the end user was a key driver behind research being demonstrated at the Cereals in Practice event.
Cereals 2015: Farm leaders warn EU rules could prevent farmers forward-selling grain
European Commission rules which could prevent farmers from forward-selling grain must be changed before they are allowed to disrupt the arable sector, according to the NFU England and Wales.
Failure to grow GM crops could damage competitiveness of UK farming, claims new study
Failure to give British farmers access to genetically modified (GM) crops could damage the future competitiveness of UK agriculture, claims a new report.
Scottish Government rules out hedgecutting derogation for oilseed rape growers
Calls for a special hedgecutting dispensation for oilseed rape growers have been denied by the Scottish Government.
Aberdeen Grain signs marketing agreement with Frontier Agriculture
North-east grain co-operative Aberdeen Grain Storage Ltd has signed a marketing agreement with Frontier Agriculture, following its decision earlier this week to end its partnership with Openfield.