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| Winter cropping areas down as weather takes its toll. | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 25 Mar 2013, 02:33 PM (176 Views) | |
| Audi-Tek | 25 Mar 2013, 02:33 PM Post #1 |
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Winter cropping areas down as weather takes its toll.![]() Source: © FARMERS GUARDIAN SCOTTISH winter cropping areas plummeted by almost 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) in 2012 compared to 2011, with winter wheat planting down to its lowest level in a decade. The latest figures from Scotland’s chief statistician revealed the extent of the abysmal 2012 season, which took its toll on both winter sowing and livestock production. Results from the 2012 December agricultural survey also showed oilseed rape planting was down 2 per cent to 35,000ha (87,500 acres) and arable silage production was down by 6 per cent to 299,000 tonnes - the lowest since 2000. The weather also hammered the livestock sector, with rising input prices and dwindling feed supplies pushing many to sell stock or close down businesses. The number of cattle fell by 8,400 in 2012. Dairy cow numbers are now at the lowest on record. The number of sheep in December increased for the first time since 2004, by 198,300 (4 per cent) to 4.66 million. The Scottish Government said this was primarily due to an increase in the number of lambs which were still available for meat production, due to a reduction in the number of sheep slaughtered in 2012. Weather hampers spring fieldwork Spring fieldwork was hampered once again this week as rain and snow battered Britain. Heavy snow - up to 10cm across lowlands and 25cm on higher ground - fell across Scotland and the north of England, along with rain and gale force winds. Neil Thomson who farms in near Kelso on the Scottish Borders said many farmers were not expecting to get onto the ‘deluged’ land until late next week. Mr Thomson said: “The winter crops look dreadful and there are no spring crops going in at all. There is so much moisture that I can’t see us getting on the land for over a week which is very concerning.” Source ............
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