2.2m tonne grain harvest predicted

TEAGASC predicts grain production will be close on 2.2 million tonnes at best, 10.6% up on 2010.

The acreage has increased by 6.9%, or 19,000 ha, with most of the increase in winter wheat and barley. As a result, production increases of nearly one third in winter wheat and nearly one quarter in winter barley are expected. Increases are predicted of 27% in spring wheat, but production is expected to fall for spring barley (0.7%), winter oats (33.8%) and spring oats (29.7%).

The winter barley harvest began last week on lighter soils, with early yields of 7.5 to 9.0 tonnes per hectare. Moisture contents were low, at 16 to 19%. Early grain quality was good, at 66 to 69 kph.