Wet start to broken barley harvest

By Andy Doyle

Harvesting of winter barley has begun despite the bad weather. Grain has been cut in Cork and Tipperary, the two traditionally earliest parts of the country for maturity. Early reports are not encouraging but many of the early reports are from early maturing Siberia six-row barley.

There are very few growers and fields involved yet, so the initial sample is very small. However, the yield level most commonly indicated is three tonnes per acre or less. And this is very much to do with grain fill where grains look small and hectolitre weights are likely to be on the low side.

However, growers generally feel that the rest of the crop is still a number of days away from being ripe and that these appear to have better potential. Perhaps surprisingly, some of the barley delivered to Dairygold in East Cork came in at 19-20% moisture.

Concerns are already being expressed with regard to the quality of this straw for the stud farm market. Continuous rain on ripe straw will inevitably force moulds to grow that will destroy the golden colour and possibly this premium market. Growers will be hoping for improved weather for the remainder of the harvest. Straw prices are still uncertain but again the prices being mentioned start at €13 and upwards for a 4x4 round bale of barley straw.

There are no official grain prices in the market yet but there is obviously a considerable hunger for grain this harvest. Merchants are actively canvassing growers for grain supplies. Seldom does one hear less than €145/t mentioned for feeding barley and the first of the winter barley crop may even get a premium on this if quality is satisfactory.

IFA National Grain Committee chairman Colum McDonnell said that new crop imported wheat and barley prices for harvest delivery are up €55/t on last year.

McDonnell said: "€182 - €185/t is being offered for new crop Irish barley collected ex. store with €189 - €191/t. on offer for new crop Irish wheat. This time last year, new crop/imported prices started off in the mid €120s range but, by the close of harvest, they had moved out over €130/t.''