Belter barley lives up to its name with impressive yields on East Lothian farm

Many factors influence variety choice, but for Scottish farmer Iain Hastie, it was the variety name that sealed the deal when he chose the spring barley Belter last season

clock • 3 min read
Belter barley lives up to its name with impressive yields on East Lothian farm

Scottish farmer Iain Hastie farms 221 hectares with his family at Dolphingstone Farm, Tranent, in East Lothian, a place where local people from Tranent are known as ‘belters' – thought to be a historical...

To continue reading...

Already a member? Login for full access.

Login

New to Farmers Guardian? Register for 1 free article per week or become a member for unlimited access to essential farming news and insights.

article-img-580x358

 

More on Arable

Growing and selling cereal products well will be the key to long-term profitability

Growing and selling cereal products well will be the key to long-term profitability

Improving business performance and deploying a marketing strategy are the best ways to ensure the best chances of making a profit

Cedric Porter
clock 20 June 2026 • 2 min read
Crop Walk with Simon Nelson - 'Suddenly perfectly clean crops had a yellow tinge'

Crop Walk with Simon Nelson - 'Suddenly perfectly clean crops had a yellow tinge'

Simon Nelson advises farmers on a wide range of arable and forage crops across Cumbria and into south-west Scotland

Simon Nelson
clock 18 June 2026 • 2 min read
Glasshouse grown: The high-tech future of British tomatoes

Glasshouse grown: The high-tech future of British tomatoes

From patented hydroponics to energy recycling and biological pest control, British tomato growers are combining innovation and sustainability to secure the future of home-grown produce in a challenging market

Michael Wale
clock 15 June 2026 • 4 min read