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Harvest
at Cultybraggan
finished by 30th August -
a record
James Irvine
Teviot Scientific, Cultybraggan Farm, Comrie,
Perthshire
Filed 31 Aug 06
©www.land-care.org.uk
Since coming to Cultybraggan Farm in 1987, never
has the barley harvest been finished as early as 30th August. Well
into September - and on occasion into October - is the norm.
If this has anything to do with global warming
then at least the phenomenon has some advantages here in Scotland.
We are told that our Springs may come earlier, which could be another
distinct advantage.
The main problem this summer has been the prolonged
lack of rain, as referred to in an earlier article (1).
Shortly it will be known for certain whether the yield of the barley
grain is substantially down, as the artic lorries cart off the Riviera
feed variety to East Coast Viners at Stonehaven.
Gathering up the grain with a JCB
Farm Special in readiness
for another loading of a massive artic truck.
By 30th August some 75 tonnes of grain were sold and
transported off the farm with another 80 tonnes or so still to go.
(to enlarge CLICK
HERE)
Photo ©Kimpton Graphics
Likewise, whether or not the number of straw bales
is down on previous years will shortly be established. That will
have a direct influence on the number of cattle that can be housed
at the farm steading over the coming winter.
Starting the harvest on 16th August and finishing
it on 30th August for is truly remarkable for this farm, and indeed
for this part of Scotland. It was achieved by the farm having its
own combine harvester suitable for the terrain, and its own tractors
and baler. This enabled the farm to take every opportunity the weather
provided. On looking back in time, the almost universal advice from
"knowledgeable" advisers - usually accountant-based and
including the business division of the SAC - was to sell capital
equipment and join a machinery ring. In this part of the country
- too far from any machinery ring - it would have been a disaster.
Even local contractors have difficulty in getting and keeping suitable
staff.
Loading an East Coast Viners 26.5
tonne artic truck with barley.
This remarkable vehicle has a steering back axle that greatly
improves its ability to manoeuvre.
With the facilities at Cultybraggan the turnaround time for the
truck
is about 25 minutes.
(To enlarge CLICK
HERE)
Photo ©Kimpton Graphics
This year the Opico mobile grain drier never got
out of its winter housing. The moisture levels of the grain never
were such that heating of the grain took place, being well below
16% for most trailer loads, and perhaps just above on an occasional
load. This represents an enormous saving in drying costs, which
potentially would have been severe on account of the huge rise in
the price of fuel, or in penalties imposed by the grain merchant.
No drying also means much less labour.
If this remarkable harvest has anything to do
with global warming, then it might be said that nature may be trying
to cure itself. The harvest was achieved with a minimum of contamination
of the atmosphere through greatly reduced diesel consumption.
On 5th June this year I listened to a lecture
given by the famous botanist, Professor Peter Raven, Director, Missouri
Botanical Garden and Professor of Botany at Washington University,
St Louis, USA. His presentation was titled "Biodiversity, Poverty
and Sustainability in the 21st Century". It was part of a series
of lectures under the general heading of "Environmental Choices"
which were given at the Royal Society of Edinburgh with the support
of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).
His message was one of deep doom and gloom. During
the open discussion at the end of his talk, I asked if there were
not some good points as well as bad in relation to global warming.
He answered with a dismissive "No". Perhaps an early Spring
next year and another short sharp harvest next Summer may be too
much to hope for. But if global warming is happening as fast as
the pundits say it is, then that might just happen. And that would
be good. Indeed, it would be very good.
Just maybe Nature (unlike SNH and other sundry
botanists, ecologists, geographers and bureaucrats) recognises that
farmers can be its best protector. Certainly this summer Nature
has helped farmers make their contribution to keep global warming
in check. Through the reduced need for intensive labour at harvest,
Nature will also have made it possible for some farms in even moderately
remote parts of Scotland to keep going - at least for another year
(2).
When attending lectures and other kinds of meetings
at the Royal Society of Edinburgh - "Scotland's Academy of
Science and Letters" - I feel in my capacity as a farmer rather
like one of the most endangered species that the plethora of environmentalists
keep going on about. But then rather few of that august body appear
to know much about practical farming.
©www.land-care.org.uk
References
1. Irvine, James (2006). The barley
harvest so far at Cultybraggan - and what it might mean for the
future.
See FARM DIARY Homepage, filed 19 Aug 06, www.land-care.org.uk
Click
Here to View
2. Linklater, Magnus (2006). Linklater's
Scotland. Could we be on the verge of losing another British industry?
Originally published in the Spectrum Magazine of Scotland on
Sunday 19th March 2006.
Reproduced on Land-Care with the kind permission of the author and
the newspaper.
See SOCIAL/ECONOMIC/POLITICAL Homepage, filed 21 Mar 06,
www.land-care.org.uk Click
Here to View
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