Crop updates: April 2026
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Our regular round up of the issues affecting crops around Scotland, summarises how crops are developing and what weather and other issues are affecting them. 听The update provides information on the progress with key field work activities as well as news on the pest, weed and disease problems being noted in crops. 听The health issues being seen in crops are a key part of the听topical update and lets growers and agronomists adjust management practices appropriately.
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9th April 2026
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General Comments
Spring drilling progress is notably variable between regions depending upon soil workability and localised weather events over recent weeks. 听Soil temperatures are slowly rising, typically 9 degrees currently, and reflecting some wide-ranging daytime temperature fluctuations accompanied by the occasional overnight frosts and even snow on higher ground. Despite this, good opportunities for field operations have been taken advantage of, with many able to catch up on spray and fertiliser applications and all crops look well for early April; earliest oilseed rapes are now flowering, and forward cereals moving into stem extension.
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Regional Comments
CAITHNESS
Fuel costs and unavailability continue to be the main factors in the area. The frustrations in getting fuel have somewhat abated due to the downturn in weather conditions as seeders have been parked up. The majority of spring sowing has still to be done. Fodder continues to be in high demand while limited numbers of cattle have been turned out
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MORAY
A period of very mixed weather this past fortnight has included many fine dry days but also a named storm, some hail and rain and cold temperatures. That has slowed down sowing progress but across the county farms are well-on with spring work. The earliest sown spring barley crops are emerging evenly whilst many have just started to sprout. Winter oilseed rape crops are very well advanced, with good looking thick crops now at green bud stage and some early flowers appearing. Winter barley crops are looking very good with plenty of tillers and are ready for T1 sprays and are overall clean. Winter wheats have also made good progress and are just about ready for their T1鈥檚 and like the barleys remain clean.
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INVERNESS
The weather around Easter Ross has been unsettled and changeable. Generally cool: daytime highs around 6鈥�10掳C. Nights often near 0掳C, sometimes dipping below freezing. There has been frequent rain and showers, most days saw light rain or passing showers, with only brief dry, sunny spells. There has also been strong wind at times with some days of sleet/hail and light snow. Overall, a mixed and unsettled fortnight mostly wet and breezy with brief brighter spells, plus a noticeable swing back to colder, wintry conditions heading into early April.
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ABERDEENSHIRE
Although there has been a cold wind and wet/wintry showers at the weekend, the weather has been fairly dry again over the last fortnight enabling growers to get spring crops sown.听 The higher temperatures this week are starting to generate a bit of warmth now and enabling crops to grow. Winter barley is approaching (if not already at T1) and winter wheats are all starting to grow into stem extension phase, with oilseed rape growing rapidly too with most crops seen having flower buds raised above the leaves of the crop now. Disease levels in winter barley are generally low, but rhyncosporium can be found, and some septoria in winter wheats.听 Yellow rust has been a concern recently due to reports of the disease found in crops further south, hence some T0 sprays have been applied to winter wheats.
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BANFF & BUCHAN
Sowing continues in the north-east with the earlier coastal and farms with lighter land almost finished, although other parts of the area with heavier soils have still a good bit to do. The weather has been mostly dry although heavy rains at the weekend have kept soils raw and cold with spring barley stubbornly slow to emerge. Winter crops are taking off with oilseed rape having 鈥渏umped鈥� up remarkably in the last couple of weeks with fungicides being applied. Winter barleys are reaching T1 sprays and are looking a much healthier shade of green as they start to find more nitrogen in the soil. Winter wheats continue to grow away steadily although are still a bit away from T1. Diesel prices continue to be a hot topic, adding to costs of production at one of the busiest times of the year. Livestock farmers are welcoming the dry conditions for lambing and calving although this is countered by the combination of slow grass growth and high fertiliser prices and lack of availability.
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FORFAR
The first of the spring barley crops are now emerging with a large amount of progress made before the weather broke. Drills are going again and it won鈥檛 be long until spring barley drilling is complete in the area. Winter oilseed rape is coming into flower and winter cereals are approaching stem extension. Yellow rust can easily be found around coastal areas, and most are spraying for this.
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PERTHSHIRE
Wet weather paused spring drilling for a few days, and the ground is taking its time at drying out again, but drills are back in the fields now however there is still a fair amount of drilling still to go. Winter oilseed rape crops are around the green bud stage with the first yellow flowers just appearing. Winter crops are looking well but disease levels are relatively high with septoria and yellow rust found in many wheat crops in particular increasing the amount of T0 sprays being applied this year.
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STIRLINGSHIRE
The weather has remained highly changeable, with snow falling across the Kerse over the weekend, only to be followed by a sharp rise in temperatures reaching highs of around 19掳C just a few days later. Ploughing continues in preparation for spring crops but as of yet, nothing has gone in the ground. Oilseed rape crops have started to flower, while winter barleys have started to reach GS 30. Rhynchosporium is beginning to appear in winter barley crops, although most other crops currently remain relatively clean and free from significant disease pressure at this stage.
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LOTHIANS
Either side of storm Dave there have been plenty of opportunities to continue with field work; some good spraying and spreading days and plenty of spring barley drilled in favourable conditions. The immediate forecast is for a return to more normal daytime temperatures after recent highs of 18-20 degrees and there have been considerable daytime to nighttime temperature fluctuations with the occasional early morning frost not uncommon. Most pressing currently is yellow rust management, which, once again, seems to be fairly widespread this spring. Rynchosporium is all too evident on winter barleys which are fast approaching GS 31. Oilseed rape is still clean with forward crops at GS 4.1 (10% flowering). Pollen beetles are easy to find, although with flowers now open on plants, damage to flower buds themselves will be reduced.
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BORDERS
Spring sowing has been progressing for three weeks with short delays caused by wet weather. The generally below average temperatures have made emergence slow with soil temperatures still below 10c. Winter crops are looking well with winter barley and September sown wheat around GS31, remaining wheat and oats GS30 with oilseed rape starting to flower. Foliar disease remains on older leaves with little active disease on new growth although there are reports of active yellow rust on wheat nearer the Berwickshire coast. Wind has repeatably disrupted spraying and fertilising opportunities and there is a backlog of field tasks to complete.
Posted by 抖阴直播 on 15/04/2026
