Good harvest progress over the past week has unveiled a high-yield harvest. Higher than expected yield levels on most crops could result in an additional 250,000t of grain relative to pre-harvest estimates and up about 5% on last year.

Yield levels are good to very good on all crops. The majority of spring barley has yielded over 3.0t/ac with individual fields above 3.5 and up to 3.7t/ac. Indeed, the national average yield could exceed 3.0t/ac as we are now well into the second half of the harvest.

Many spring barley crops do not look ripe but still have low grain moisture. This is affecting the barley harvest which is slowest around north Cork, the midlands and the northern half of the country.

Quality for malting is good with proteins generally low, given the high yields. A number of the more recent crops have had slightly higher protein levels, which are important for brewing. Malting barley surplus to contract will receive €152/t green.

Winter wheat yields are also very good with farm averages generally exceeding 4.0t/ac. A number of individual fields were over 5.0t/ac with an occasional report at 6.0t/ac. The majority of the wheat is now harvested and quality is excellent, with dry wheat likely to be around 80KPH.

Spring oats are also doing well with yield reports generally in excess of 3.0t/ac and up to 3.5t/ac. But there is a substantial area of this crop lodged in places. Quality is also very good, averaging in excess of 54KPH.

Grain prices remain depressed but there are some signs of optimism. Demand has returned to the market as mills and other users opt to use native grains to replace imported feedstuffs. Price runs post-harvest suggest a green price of €135/t is feasible. Current spot dry price levels are around €155/t for barley and €160+/t for wheat but there are some better deals about.

The trade realise the need to pay over and above current market price levels for green grain in order to keep growers afloat. Grain price is a vital ingredient to balance the repayment of merchant credit.

As one merchant put it: “We have an obligation to offer what we feel the market can afford. This is essential to drive production confidence for the year ahead when global production levels may be more restricted.”

The IFA’s Liam Dunne said: “Industry must support growers to get through this very challenging financial year. Even €140/t for green barley will leave growers with negative incomes.

“Marginal returns, production risks and complex greening compliance rules will force many growers to reconsider this enterprise,” Dunne said.

Demand for straw is quite variable around the country, as evidenced by the number of fields with bales present. In high demand areas, wheat straw is making €12/4x4 for feeding but up to €4/bale lower in some surplus areas.

Growers with regular customers have a good demand but others are finding straw difficult to move. There is some chopping taking place and this is now likely to increase.