I always find this time of the year mentally exhausting. Markets and weather dominate my thoughts on the tillage side, while on the cattle side, the difference in the performance between individual cattle really makes itself felt as the bulls come in from grass for final finishing.

A few week ago the prices offered for green grain at harvest took a sudden jump. I was aware that very dry weather in the US was seen as significantly reducing the potential of their milling wheat crop. However, with the most generous interpretation, I would never have seen my feed wheat as being in the same quality bracket and regard maize as much more the relevant competitor.

So I forward-sold a portion of my wheat at a green (20% moisture) price of €146/t and green feed winter barley at €135/t. I felt some smugness as the price dropped back but in the last few days, my price has been fully matched and, I presume, with some merchants surpassed. There is little I can do about it except console myself that the base price for the seed crops will be set on the final harvest price, which is usually set in the late October period, so if the upward movement is sustained, at least that portion of the harvest will be protected.

Elsewhere on the tillage side, the oilseed rape is nearing the time when it should get its Round-up and I will definitely include a pod sealant to prevent shattering in bad weather. In my view, pod sealants are an example of the tremendous developments of modern science. The winter barley is now fully turned but is still a week or two from harvesting, but again I have sold the winter barley straw forward as last year I ended up having to chop some of it with a non-existent trade in the immediate post-harvest period.

During the few dry days we got the grass seed sown on the last of the reclaimed ground – it went in slightly later than I would like as we underestimated the amount of stones that needed to be picked. It is a tedious backbreaking job but at least it’s done and the rain has come, which should ensure decent germination.

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'Earliest ever' start to harvest in Cork