A Newmachar farmer has been crowned cream of the crop in the Royal Northern Agricultural Society’s annual best crop of turnips competition.
George Gray of Kinmundy Farm took the top title for his 10-acre crop of Lomond, which achieved the highest yield of 65.63 tonnes per acre and was crowned the best feeding turnip and non-LFA class in the competition, scoring a total of 106.63 points.
Mr Gray grows 15 acres of turnips and spring barley for seed on his 70-acre farm, but also rents 300 acres of arable land for cropping. He keeps some of the turnips to feed 40 heifers, which are finished on farm every year, but the majority is sold for feeding to sheep.
“This year’s turnips didn’t receive any special treatment but turned out a good, clean crop. My main business is engineering but farming is my passion,” said Mr Gray, who alognside wife Helen and daughter Rachael runs Newmech SErvices. His son Martin, who works as an agricultural engineer at Ravenhill at Dyce, also helps at the business.
The runner up in the competition and winner of the award for best management was Charles Downie of Mains of Techmuiry, with a 15-acre crop of Kenmore scoring 106.16 points.
The competition, which was sponsored by Murray Duguid Seed Merchants, Oldmeldrum and judged by Sandy Duguid, attracted an entry of 26 crops. Awards were based on points gained for yield and management of the crop.
RESULTS
LFA: 1 – Wm Stewart, Bomakelloch, Keith; 2 – J Duguid, North Cranna, Aberchirder; 3 – J Edward, Meikle Ardrone, Keith.
Non-LFA: 1 – George Gray; 2 – Charles Downie; 3 – A M Duguid and Son, Smiddyburn, Rothienorman.
Shopping: 1 and 2 – A M and A J Jacobsen, Grange of Kinneff, Inverbervie; 3 – J Edward.
Feeding: 1 – George Gray; 2 – Charles Downie; 3 – Wm Stewart.
Best under 26: 1 and 2 – G, A and S Duguid and Sons, Mains of Cranna, Aberchirder.