The farmers with some of the best blocks of barley and wheat this season have been unveiled by two agricultural shows in the north-east.
Both the Fettercairn and Turriff Shows have revealed the results of their annual crop competitions.
Leading the charge in the Turriff competition was outgoing show president Scott McKilligin.
The 40-acre block of Laureate spring barley at Mr McKilligin’s Mahon Farm, near Turriff, was judged best in the spring barley section before being crowned best overall in the Scotgrain-sponsored contest.
Mr McKilligin, who runs a mixed enterprise with 500 acres of cereals and the finishing of 600 cattle per annum, said: “Laureate is the new up and coming spring barley that the maltsters want, and it yields probably half a tonne more than Concerto. It’s looking clean.”
Second place in the spring barley section went to Andrew Strachan of Millfield, Turriff, with Laureate, and third place went to David Cruickshank of Logie Newton, Huntly, with Laureate.
First place in the winter barley was Alexander J. Norrie, of Woodside of Wrae, Turriff, with Bazooka. Mr McKilligin took second place with a block of Bazooka, and Kevin Gray of Tillyfar, Turriff, was third with Tower.
The winter wheat section was won by A. J. Duncan of Muirden, Turriff, with Barrel. Second place went to John K. Ledingham, Fintry Farm, Turriff, with Viscount, and third went to J. S. Willox, Banks Farm, Fyvie, with Lili.
Meanwhile, a block of Laureate has also won the spring barley section in the Fettercairn contest, sponsored by East Coast Viners and W.N. Lindsay.
Judge Alan Grant, of Skillymarno, Strichen, awarded first place in the spring barley section to David Officer’s Laureate entry from Ardoch of Gallery, Craigo. Second place went to J. Y. Middleton and Son, Balebegno, Fettercairn, with Concerto, and third place went to A.M. and A.J. Jacobsen, Grange of Kinneff, Inverbervie, with Laureate.
First place in the wheat section was D.M. Carnegie, Steelstrath, Laurencekirk, with Leeds. Second place was Rhys Anderson, Burnton, Laurencekirk, with Barrel, and third went to the Middletons at Balbegno with Viscount.