Grain growers urged not to sell below going rate as prices rise

GRAIN growers were warned yesterday not to be conned into selling below the going rate as prices for green and dried crops continue to harden.

Irish Farmers Association Grain Committee chairman Noel Delaney said 60% of the crops in the south of the country have been cut, with 85% of the harvest in the midlands/south Leinster area now in.

Further north in the Dublin, North Kildare, Meath and Louth belt, crops are just coming ripe and 20-25% is done.

Mr Delaney said dried and green prices have firmed this week with the realisation that grain yields are back by 0.3 to 0.4t/acre right across the country. Direct demand from livestock farmers has increased as the trade and compound feed mills have hiked ration prices by €20/t with further price rises in the pipeline.

His comments came amid reports yesterday that Russian grain imports this year are likely to soar to five million tonnes at least after the country’s worst drought in more than a century damaged its harvest and forced it to ban exports.

Mr Delaney said international grain prices are continuing their upward trend as impending news of an effective ban on exports from the Ukraine materialises.

“This has resulted in continental European feed barley prices moving out over feed wheat over the last fortnight. With the biggest discounters now out of the world market for 2010/2011marketing year, current prices are expected to hold,” he said

Mr Delaney said the floor price for green barley has moved to €140/t with feed wheat at €155/t.

Most growers are in a position to achieve €145 to €150/t for barley with a number of deals reaching €154/t for substantial lots.

On the feed wheat front, growers are cutting deals up to €162/t green (20% moisture, excluding vat).

Up to €190/t is available for dried barley for harvest /September collection. Dried wheat prices have moved out to €200/t for November/December collection.