Winter wheat is a winner for Turriff farmer in cereal crop competition
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The Royal Northern Agricultural Society (RNAS) has celebrated some of the best of north-east agriculture thanks to its latest round of awards for cereal crops.
The RNAS annual cereals competition sponsored by agricultural merchants McCreath, Simpson & Prentice – was won by a crop of Tapestry winter wheat from AJ Duncan, Woodhead of Laithers, Turriff.
Sown for the first time in 2022, the 75 acres grown saw a yield of 5.1 tonnes per acre.
Using two tonnes of chicken manure per acre and a standard agronomy programme of 180kg of liquid nitrogen, the success of this year’s crop has prompted a decision to expand acreage grown from 75 acres in 2023 to 600 acres next year, with 60 tonnes of this year’s harvest being kept for seed.
The AJ Duncan/Duncan Arable Farms enterprise encompasses more than 6000 acres of combinable crops which are primarily used as chicken feed with oats recently added to the crop rotation to achieve two wheat crops in five instead of one.
Judge Willie Sharp also chose as his reserve champion Skyscraper winter wheat from John Forbes & Partners at Slainspark, Kinneff whilst the best LFA crop was spring oats from Robert Murray, Tullynessle, Alford.
Commenting on this year’s competition, RNAS president Alan Cumming said: “This annual competition is an important way of recognising some of the excellent crop husbandry which exists in the north-east of Scotland and we are very grateful to all participants for showcasing their crops by taking part in this event.”
Results -
Winter barley - 1 A J Norrie Woodside of Wrae, Turriff Kingston; 2 Alex Reid, Mains of Newton, Laurencekirk, Bolton and 3 J &E Forrester, Aldie, Cruden Bay, Valarie,
Winter wheat - 1 A J Duncan, Muirden, Turriff, Tapestry; 2 John Forbes & Partners, Slainspark, Kinneff, Skyscraper and 3 Alex Reid, Mains of Newton, Laurencekirk, Insitor.
Spring oats - 1 Robert Murray, Scotsmill, Tullynessle, Alford, Merlin; 2 James Shepherd, Murphiehowe, Drumoak, Canyon and 3 Ednie Farms Ednie House, St Fergus, Canyon.
Spring malt - 1 J Y Middleton & Son Balbegno, Fettercairn, Diablo; 2 Alex Reid, Mains of Newton, Laurencekirk, Diablo and 3 KH & KM Marshall, Mains of Hilton, Catterline, Laureate.
Spring feed - 1 A J Duncan Muirden, Turriff, Laureate; 2 C & A Findlay Turfhillock, Drummuir, Propino and 3 J & E Forrester Aldie, Cruden Bay, Planet.
Champion - Winter Wheat, A J Duncan Muirden, Turriff, Tapestry
Reserve champion - Winter Wheat, John Forbes & Partners Slainspark, Kinneff, Skyscraper.
The next RNAS competition is the turnip and fodder beet competition, with entries to be submitted by November 6 while the next event on the RNAS calendar is the annual awards lunch which will take place at the Leonardo’s Hotel, Aberdeen Airport on Friday, November 3.
To find out more about either, email secretary@rnas.info or call (07593) 227847.
