Mixed fortunes for cereal growers

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7530469.stm

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Cereal growers in Scotland face paying almost double the price they paid last year for fertiliser.

Colin Mason, chairman of the National Farmers' Union Scotland's Highland region, said costs have risen from between £250-270 a tonne to £500-600.

Higher oil prices have been blamed for pushing up fertiliser production costs.

Meanwhile, farmers could be tempted to plant more oilseed rape after what were described as good prices on offer for crops harvested to make biofuels.

Mr Mason said: "The big talking point just now is the price of fertiliser for the autumn when the planting of next year's crops will be done.

"A lot of sums are being done and budgets being worked out to see if it will be viable to be growing cereals."

More orders

In April, the Scottish Crofting Foundation warned high oil prices and increasing grain production for biofuel were to blame for pushing up costs of animal feed and fertilizer to more than double.

Mr Mason said good contract prices were being offered for growing oilseed rape next year for the manufacture of biofuel.

He said it was not widely grown in the Highlands, but seed merchants have told him there have been more orders for oilseed.

Mr Mason added: "It looks like there could be more fields of yellow flowers next year. It's too early to say what the prices for cereals for feed and malting will be for next year."

Growers in England, who have started harvesting crops, have reported "very good" yields.

Mr Mason said: "The harvest here will be a bit later and we are just hoping for plenty sunshine and heat over the next few weeks."