Challenging harvest conditions:

Very broken weather is making winter barley harvesting difficult and straw is beginning to break down in some crops. A few crops are showing neck-break, with heads falling to the ground from standing stems. These situations make taking a half chance essential, almost regardless of moisture content.

The consequences of the broken weather can be seen all over the country, with bits cut in fields where combines were washed out by showers. While some growers have not yet commenced winter barley harvesting, others have already harvested some winter oat and rape crops.

The forecast seems reasonable for the week ahead.

Variable yields:

This harvest is not a case of one-size-fits-all, as yield performance has been very variable to date. There were a lot of BYDV problems on crops either side of the southeast and many of these are coming in at 3.5t/acre or lower. Yields also seem to be constrained in the south, but by some other factor. In other areas, most crops appear to be at or above 4t/acre, with a number of reports above 5t/acre and even better. It looks like crops have gathered potential, despite not having looked so good at times in the spring. So far, it would appear that the hybrids have opened up a yield advantage on the two-row types, but let’s see a little more cut before we draw conclusions.

Straw:

So far, most of the winter barley straw is either left in rows or baled, but some is now being chopped. With so much fodder about, the general demand for straw is reported to be low or nonexistent. If this is the case for you, there is little point in baling and assembling straw for sale. Some straw will be wanted, but having less in the market should help the value of the remainder.

The cashflow trap associated with high costs and low grain prices means that straw poses an additional dilemma, especially on conacre. Talk of prices equating to €30-€40/acre on the ledge for straw does not justify sale, especially on owned land. The fertiliser value of straw is around €25-€30/acre, but the economic value over time is above €50/acre.

Chopping straw has a diesel and time cost and it needs shallow incorporation post cutting to begin the rotting process. The impact of incorporated straw is slow to show effect on soil fertility, but will show effects on the physical nature of the soil within two years, which reduces future diesel consumption. Aim to leave chopped straw close to the surface to promote an increase in earthworm numbers to improve your soil.

It is not necessary to incorporate all of your straw, or to do it every year. Soil biology will benefit from higher organic matter incorporation, but you can do different things on a rotational basis and still get most of the benefits. The most important thing is to do something, and low-value straw is a good place to start.