The total production of cereals for the country is estimated to be almost 2.3m tonnes this year, according to the Teagasc Specialist Crops report published on Monday. There was a 13% reduction on 2015 production levels, which were at 2.6m tonnes. This is 7% lower than the five-year average harvest, which is 2.45m tonnes.

The reduction in production volume is coupled with a 5% reduction in the area planted. The total cereal area harvested in 2016 was 277,000ha, a fall of 14,300ha compared with the 2015 harvested area.

Not only were harvest conditions difficult in certain counties, but there were poor conditions over the winter months, a later spring and bad weather at flowering for winter wheat and spring barley.

In general, grain quality was slightly lower in 2016, while grain skinning and higher grain protein in malting barley was a particular problem for many growers.

For the fourth year in succession, the world produced a bumper grain crop, adding further to world grain stocks resulting in downward pressure on crop prices.