Winter barley harvest is progressing well and most reports indicate an upward trend in yields as the harvest progresses. However, crop performance is increasingly variable with many crops below 3.5t/ac and some down as low as 2.5t/ac. While barley yields are variable, quality is generally good with specific weights in the 62-66kph bracket. Price remains the major limit on profit.

Merchants are reluctant to offer green prices in the hope that there may be some firming of the market post-harvest. Most buyers who are serious about dealing are currently offering around €131-€132/t green at 20% moisture plus VAT. One southern buyer is reportedly paying €135/t green.

There is more certainty in the dry barley market. Merchants and co-ops are offering around €161 to €165/t, depending on location. So far, the better price offers are mainly originating from the south. In some instances, merchants are offering a fixed and final price now or a lesser price subject to review in November.

The big question now is whether international grain prices are beginning to bottom out. The fact that global production estimates continue to be hiked upwards at this time of year spells concern. Harvest progress here is being disrupted by broken weather.

Demand for straw remains slow or poor. Offers as low as €8 per 4x4 round bale are now encouraging growers to chop. IFA grain chair Liam Dunne advised growers to chop headlands at least and to consider chopping full fields where there is no demand or where the price offered is below €50/ac.

A few crops of winter rape have already been harvested and initial yields have been disappointing. The crops on the east coast yielded between 1.3 and 1.6t/ac at moistures approaching 9%.