As the realisation of a big harvest grows, broken weather threatens both the gathering and quality of crops.

The conditions, which varied from showers to heavy rain, either slowed or prevented harvesting in many tillage areas over the past week. If a harvest window does not open up shortly, grain quality could be impacted through germinating seeds, falling bushels and direct grain loss in the field prior to combining.

Yields of all crops were good up until the most recent weather break. Big yields are reported from spring barley and winter wheat. Progress in malting barley has been relatively good, but now moisture levels are limiting harvesting opportunities.

Protein levels are also low, but it now appears that the proportion of low to normal levels is giving rise to rejections based on low protein levels.

Harvesting progress in winter wheat is quite variable. Some growers are almost complete, while others are only ready to begin. But yields are good to very good, with a number of reports of 5.5t/acre plus. Quality has also been good.

Broken weather now threatens the delivery of quality in both of these crops. Germination is an immediate fear as crops go through wet and dry cycles in relatively warm conditions.

And with so many other quality parameters in malting barley, the fear of rejection increases as the days go by.

Malting barley growers must now decide whether to opt for the prescribed September dates to finalise their pricing arrangements, or to opt to postpone this final price assessment until November. Each grower must declare his/her intention by 31 August.

Grain prices are in turmoil as harvest pressure and external economic factors combine.

Wheat price offers for November have fallen by about €30/t since early July.

Current price levels of around €160/t for dry barley and €170/t for dry wheat are unsustainable for growers.