Tom Barry: The right decisions at the right time are crucial for growers nowadays

Watching the markets and weather and acting strategically has been key to business this year, writes North Cork tillage farmer Tom Barry.

Tom Barry in store No19 for food grade barley on the Barry farm at Kilavullen, Co Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

Harvest 2023, for me, was one where making management decisions in a timely manner was critical. This was not easy as the decision to hire in extra help comes at a cost, and the looming low harvest grain price was in the background. 

However, with an extra combine, I finished the harvest in late August. Yields were average, winter wheat after beans was the standout crop yielding more than 11 tonnes/ha. Winter beans once again were a decent crop, yielding 7 tonnes per hectare.