Week three of Harvest18 and things continue to advance at a rapid pace.
Winter barley is virtually finished in southern, southeastern and western counties, with just a few crops remaining in the east, northeast and midlands. Many growers are happy with the barley harvest, despite many reporting lower than average yields.
Progress has been made in the north, but just a handful of growers have started their harvest in the northwest. Wet weather and slow ripening of crops has limited harvest progress.
Many winter oat crops are now harvested in the south, while further north the harvest is now over 50% complete.
Yield is back but quality is reported to be very good.
The winter oilseed rape harvest commenced last week in the south, with few reports in so far. However, yields appear to be ranging from 1.2t to 2.2t/ac.
Meanwhile, the countdown is on until the winter wheat harvest commences. Growers in early areas are reporting that the harvest will commence this week. However, it should be stressed that these crops suffered from the effects of the drought and growers remain less than optimistic about the prospect of the crop.
Other wheat crops remain a week to three weeks from harvest and appear to be in better health.
Reports from growers further south, including counties Kilkenny, Cork and Carlow, suggest early and/or poor crops of spring oats could also be started this week.
Winter barley
Winter barley is largely finished and growers appear satisfied with the harvest, despite the lower than average yields in places. Soil type and location has played a large part in the performance of crops this year. Some growers are reporting farm average to be as high as 4.5t/ac and as low as 3.0t/ac.
The harvest has been slow to commence in the northwest, which has experienced a relatively normal 2018 growing season. Initial harvest reports from those who started last week are in the range of 3.6t to 4.4 t/ac at 17% to 23% moisture content.
Yields: Average barley yields remain in the range of 3.2t to 3.9t/ac, but these range from extremes of 1.8t to over 5.0t/ac.
Specific weights: Specific weights ranging from 62 to 70KPH are now commonly reported.
Moisture: Moistures as low as 10.2% have been reported, as have moistures as high as 23%. Moistures further north are close to seven to 10 percentage points higher than those of the south. However, national averages remain close to 15% to 16%.
Winter oats
Winter oats yields are back but quality is very good.
Winter oats has wrapped up in many parts of the south over the past week. Further north and in the midlands the oats harvest is progressing well. Average yields are lower, but quality is good and moistures are low. Soil type appears to have dictated harvest date and yields in particular this year. Heavy moisture-retaining ground has been particularly favourable to oats this year.
Yields: Yields remain mixed, ranging from 2.2t to 3.8t/ac. Fields with good rotations are reported to be performing noticeably better this year.
Specific weights: Weights are ranging from extremes of 45 to 59KPH, with indicative averages in the region of 54KPH.
Moistures: Moistures are also variable, ranging from extremes of 11% to 22%. Indicative averages are around 15%.
Winter oilseed rape:
The winter oilseed rape harvest is well underway in the south.
The winter oilseed rape harvest is currently under way in the south. A number of crops have been tried further north over the past few days, but moistures are reported to have been too high. Due to the earliness of the harvest, some growers have opted not to desiccate crops this year.
Yields: Reports of yields are very mixed, ranging from 1.2t to 2.2t/ac. Some growers have expressed disappointment with how the crops have yielded. While pod numbers are high, seed size is reported to be small in some crops.
Moistures: Average moistures are low, ranging from 9% to 11%.
Spring barley:
Early spring barley yields protein levels were very low. \ Donal O'Leary
Just one report of spring malting barley being harvested has been reported to the Irish Farmers Journal. The crop of Planet malting barley was sown in east Cork in February before the snow arrived.
The ground received a heavy application of pig slurry, which, according to the grower, helped the crop survive the worst effects of the drought. The earliness of sowing also undoubtedly contributed to the crop performance. However, protein levels were very low, in part due to the high yield.
Yields: 3.5t/ac.Specific weights: 68KPH. Moistures: 15% to 17%. Protein: 8.5%. 
Winter barley straw yields are excellent, ranging from 12-18 4x4 round bales/ac.
Winter barley crops which were harvested over the past seven days have also produced an excellent straw yield, with many fields averaging 13 to 14 4x4 round bales/acre. However, oaten straw yields remain mixed, with many growers reporting lower than average yields.
Oaten straw quality is excellent and has largely retained its golden colour. Virtually all of the winter oilseed rape straw is being baled this year. However, the straw is very green and must be left for a number of days before baling.
As reported above, one field of spring barley has been reported so far. Straw yields on this particular crop were excellent, producing around 12 4x4 round bales/acre.
Prices reported for barley straw which was traded over the past seven days ranges from €25 to €35 for a 4x4 round bale from the field. Oaten straw is reported to be trading for €5 less than barley straw for a 4x4 round bale.
Oilseed rape straw is reported to be trading for €15 to €20 for a 4x4 round bale from the field. Each week we will carry information from growers who provide us with updates of their harvest reports, as well as information from our field visits. This information is collated to produce the harvest summary table which provides the range of values and an indicative average.
Each week we bring you a number of reports from field visits to growers, as well as from growers who have contacted us in our interactive Harvest18 map.
Be sure to send us in your harvest updates and help us stay up to date with the progress of your harvest, as it happens. Send us your reports to srobb@farmersjournal.ie or tweet us at @FJTillage.
Read more
Harvest18: winter barley wrapping up as focus moves to oats
Demand driving green barley to €175/t and above
Week three of Harvest18 and things continue to advance at a rapid pace.
Winter barley is virtually finished in southern, southeastern and western counties, with just a few crops remaining in the east, northeast and midlands. Many growers are happy with the barley harvest, despite many reporting lower than average yields.
Progress has been made in the north, but just a handful of growers have started their harvest in the northwest. Wet weather and slow ripening of crops has limited harvest progress.
Many winter oat crops are now harvested in the south, while further north the harvest is now over 50% complete.
Yield is back but quality is reported to be very good.
The winter oilseed rape harvest commenced last week in the south, with few reports in so far. However, yields appear to be ranging from 1.2t to 2.2t/ac.
Meanwhile, the countdown is on until the winter wheat harvest commences. Growers in early areas are reporting that the harvest will commence this week. However, it should be stressed that these crops suffered from the effects of the drought and growers remain less than optimistic about the prospect of the crop.
Other wheat crops remain a week to three weeks from harvest and appear to be in better health.
Reports from growers further south, including counties Kilkenny, Cork and Carlow, suggest early and/or poor crops of spring oats could also be started this week.
Winter barley
Winter barley is largely finished and growers appear satisfied with the harvest, despite the lower than average yields in places. Soil type and location has played a large part in the performance of crops this year. Some growers are reporting farm average to be as high as 4.5t/ac and as low as 3.0t/ac.
The harvest has been slow to commence in the northwest, which has experienced a relatively normal 2018 growing season. Initial harvest reports from those who started last week are in the range of 3.6t to 4.4 t/ac at 17% to 23% moisture content.
Yields: Average barley yields remain in the range of 3.2t to 3.9t/ac, but these range from extremes of 1.8t to over 5.0t/ac.
Specific weights: Specific weights ranging from 62 to 70KPH are now commonly reported.
Moisture: Moistures as low as 10.2% have been reported, as have moistures as high as 23%. Moistures further north are close to seven to 10 percentage points higher than those of the south. However, national averages remain close to 15% to 16%.
Winter oats
Winter oats yields are back but quality is very good.
Winter oats has wrapped up in many parts of the south over the past week. Further north and in the midlands the oats harvest is progressing well. Average yields are lower, but quality is good and moistures are low. Soil type appears to have dictated harvest date and yields in particular this year. Heavy moisture-retaining ground has been particularly favourable to oats this year.
Yields: Yields remain mixed, ranging from 2.2t to 3.8t/ac. Fields with good rotations are reported to be performing noticeably better this year.
Specific weights: Weights are ranging from extremes of 45 to 59KPH, with indicative averages in the region of 54KPH.
Moistures: Moistures are also variable, ranging from extremes of 11% to 22%. Indicative averages are around 15%.
Winter oilseed rape:
The winter oilseed rape harvest is well underway in the south.
The winter oilseed rape harvest is currently under way in the south. A number of crops have been tried further north over the past few days, but moistures are reported to have been too high. Due to the earliness of the harvest, some growers have opted not to desiccate crops this year.
Yields: Reports of yields are very mixed, ranging from 1.2t to 2.2t/ac. Some growers have expressed disappointment with how the crops have yielded. While pod numbers are high, seed size is reported to be small in some crops.
Moistures: Average moistures are low, ranging from 9% to 11%.
Spring barley:
Early spring barley yields protein levels were very low. \ Donal O'Leary
Just one report of spring malting barley being harvested has been reported to the Irish Farmers Journal. The crop of Planet malting barley was sown in east Cork in February before the snow arrived.
The ground received a heavy application of pig slurry, which, according to the grower, helped the crop survive the worst effects of the drought. The earliness of sowing also undoubtedly contributed to the crop performance. However, protein levels were very low, in part due to the high yield.
Yields: 3.5t/ac.Specific weights: 68KPH. Moistures: 15% to 17%. Protein: 8.5%.
Winter barley straw yields are excellent, ranging from 12-18 4x4 round bales/ac.
Winter barley crops which were harvested over the past seven days have also produced an excellent straw yield, with many fields averaging 13 to 14 4x4 round bales/acre. However, oaten straw yields remain mixed, with many growers reporting lower than average yields.
Oaten straw quality is excellent and has largely retained its golden colour. Virtually all of the winter oilseed rape straw is being baled this year. However, the straw is very green and must be left for a number of days before baling.
As reported above, one field of spring barley has been reported so far. Straw yields on this particular crop were excellent, producing around 12 4x4 round bales/acre.
Prices reported for barley straw which was traded over the past seven days ranges from €25 to €35 for a 4x4 round bale from the field. Oaten straw is reported to be trading for €5 less than barley straw for a 4x4 round bale.
Oilseed rape straw is reported to be trading for €15 to €20 for a 4x4 round bale from the field. Each week we will carry information from growers who provide us with updates of their harvest reports, as well as information from our field visits. This information is collated to produce the harvest summary table which provides the range of values and an indicative average.
Each week we bring you a number of reports from field visits to growers, as well as from growers who have contacted us in our interactive Harvest18 map.
Be sure to send us in your harvest updates and help us stay up to date with the progress of your harvest, as it happens. Send us your reports to srobb@farmersjournal.ie or tweet us at @FJTillage.
Read more
Harvest18: winter barley wrapping up as focus moves to oats
Demand driving green barley to €175/t and above
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