Low cereal yield, but wheat and oats doing well
On the demand side, usage of cereals in feed is expected to be about the same as last year.
At 158,000 hectares, this year’s barley cropping is about 14% back on 2004, and spring barley yield prospects are rated as only moderate by Teagasc.
With considerable lodging reported in spring barley in southern coastal counties after very heavy rain, growers need to be vigilant to protect crops from bird damage.
Already, the virtually completed winter barley harvest has delivered disappointing yields, averaging about 7.7 tonnes per ha (3.1 t/acre), but ranging from 6.5 to 10t.
Quality was also very variable, but with most crops in the KPH range 62 to 65, lower for six-row varieties.
Winter oats yields and quality have been satisfactory, but not as good as last year.
The national wheat crop area is estimated to be 92,000 ha, down 10% from 2004. But winter wheat crops are generally looking well, and yield potential is very good, according to Teagasc. Harvesting is getting under way now.
Spring wheat and oat crops are also looking well, and yield prospects are rated as very good by Teagasc.
Elsewhere on tillage farms, main crop potatoes are looking well but blight is a constant threat and some infection is reported.
The price for British Queens is holding up well, at €400/t, and trade is steady, according to Teagasc.
Peas for Batchelors are also looking well, but many crops are ripening very unevenly due to varying moisture deficit across fields.
Harvesting has commenced.
