St Johnston, Co Donegal
After a near-perfect growing season in 2018, recent broken weather has meant the harvest in Donegal has been a challenge. Despite this, good progress is being made and David expects to finish the harvest in a week’s time. Grain and straw yields have been excellent. His winter barley averaged between 3.8t and 4.3t/ac at 15% to 20% moisture and 71 KPH. Winter wheat averaged 4.2t to 4.5t/ac at 18% moisture and 82 KPH. Winter oats yielded 2.9t/ac. His spring barley harvest is 65% through and, so far, is averaging 3.3t to 3.5t/ac at 18.5% to 21% moisture. His spring wheat and oat harvest remains a week away.
Enniscrone, Co Sligo
Rain at critical stages during germination and at the end of May meant that Edward’s spring barley and spring wheat escaped the worst effects of the drought. As a result, crop establishment was excellent and they looked well all year. However, weather conditions during August have been broken, meaning the harvest only began last week. Despite this, progress has been steady. Barley yields are above 3.0t/ac at between 16.8% and 18.5% moisture. Grain quality appears to be higher in his crops of Planet. Straw yields are averaging seven 4x4 bales/ac. His Quintus spring wheat will be crimped next week.
Hollymount, Co Mayo
Jarlath’s Planet spring barley did much better than expected. His crops looked thin all year and heads were short, but, despite his, the crop averaged around 2.7t/ac. While this is down from 3.1t/ac last year, he is pleased with its performance. Average moistures came in at 17% to 18% and grain quality was good. Straw yields were back. Harvest weather was broken during August, but improved towards the end of the month. His winter barley yielded 3.1t/ac, with straw yields of 12 4x4 round bales/ac.
Eyrecourt, Co Galway
The weather has been broken over the past few weeks in Eyrecourt, but Chris explains that the showers have been very localised. The harvest is now complete and most of the straw is gathered. His spring barley beat the farm average this year, yielding around 3.0t/ac. Grain quality is good, with moistures ranging from 16.5% to 20%. Straw yield was around seven 4x4bales/ac and required some turning. His spring wheat was wholecropped. Grains on the winter barley he harvested were small and it yielded around 3.3t/ac. The winter wheat averaged 4.0t/ac at 18% moisture, with 13 4x4 bales/ac.
Kinvarra, Co Clare
Mixed weather in August has meant that the spring harvest has been a challenge in Clare, but, despite this, Shane expects to finish this week. The harvest is around 70% through in the area. His spring oat harvest began in record early time in July. The crop yielded 3.2t/ac at 16% and quality was high. However, spring barley was very mixed, ranging from 1.7t to 2.3t/ac at 19% to 20% moisture. Spring crops were sown early on his dry limestone ground, which meant they could withstand the worst of the drought. Some straw needed to be turned but averaged around seven to eight 4x4 bales/ac.
Croom, Co Limerick
There has been little respite from the drought conditions in Croom, but the weather has been excellent throughout the entire harvest. However, straw and grain yields have taken a big hit, explains John. His winter barley averaged 3.1t/ac at 17% moisture. Winter wheat averaged 3.2t/ac, down 25% on last year. His spring crops were sown late due to the wet spring (around mid-May). The harvest was completed last week and his spring barley averaged 2.0t/ac at 17% moisture, with just four 4x4 bales/ac. His spring wheat was cut for crimping and yielded 2.0t/ac.
Jimmy Galvin cutting spring barley in Barrow, Ardfert, Co Kerry.
Ardfert, Co Kerry
Jimmy’s spring barley harvest has gone relatively smoothly, although yields are back slightly. Farming on light sandy soils by the coast, Jimmy normally harvests 3.0t/ac crops, but this year his Planet and Irena spring barley yielded between 2.2t and 2.6t/ac at 15% to 16% moisture. The crop was planted late and tillered well, but suffered the full effects of the drought later on. The weather over the past few weeks has been mixed, but he hopes to bale the straw this week and expects around six 4x4 bales/ac.
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St Johnston, Co Donegal
After a near-perfect growing season in 2018, recent broken weather has meant the harvest in Donegal has been a challenge. Despite this, good progress is being made and David expects to finish the harvest in a week’s time. Grain and straw yields have been excellent. His winter barley averaged between 3.8t and 4.3t/ac at 15% to 20% moisture and 71 KPH. Winter wheat averaged 4.2t to 4.5t/ac at 18% moisture and 82 KPH. Winter oats yielded 2.9t/ac. His spring barley harvest is 65% through and, so far, is averaging 3.3t to 3.5t/ac at 18.5% to 21% moisture. His spring wheat and oat harvest remains a week away.
Enniscrone, Co Sligo
Rain at critical stages during germination and at the end of May meant that Edward’s spring barley and spring wheat escaped the worst effects of the drought. As a result, crop establishment was excellent and they looked well all year. However, weather conditions during August have been broken, meaning the harvest only began last week. Despite this, progress has been steady. Barley yields are above 3.0t/ac at between 16.8% and 18.5% moisture. Grain quality appears to be higher in his crops of Planet. Straw yields are averaging seven 4x4 bales/ac. His Quintus spring wheat will be crimped next week.
Hollymount, Co Mayo
Jarlath’s Planet spring barley did much better than expected. His crops looked thin all year and heads were short, but, despite his, the crop averaged around 2.7t/ac. While this is down from 3.1t/ac last year, he is pleased with its performance. Average moistures came in at 17% to 18% and grain quality was good. Straw yields were back. Harvest weather was broken during August, but improved towards the end of the month. His winter barley yielded 3.1t/ac, with straw yields of 12 4x4 round bales/ac.
Eyrecourt, Co Galway
The weather has been broken over the past few weeks in Eyrecourt, but Chris explains that the showers have been very localised. The harvest is now complete and most of the straw is gathered. His spring barley beat the farm average this year, yielding around 3.0t/ac. Grain quality is good, with moistures ranging from 16.5% to 20%. Straw yield was around seven 4x4bales/ac and required some turning. His spring wheat was wholecropped. Grains on the winter barley he harvested were small and it yielded around 3.3t/ac. The winter wheat averaged 4.0t/ac at 18% moisture, with 13 4x4 bales/ac.
Kinvarra, Co Clare
Mixed weather in August has meant that the spring harvest has been a challenge in Clare, but, despite this, Shane expects to finish this week. The harvest is around 70% through in the area. His spring oat harvest began in record early time in July. The crop yielded 3.2t/ac at 16% and quality was high. However, spring barley was very mixed, ranging from 1.7t to 2.3t/ac at 19% to 20% moisture. Spring crops were sown early on his dry limestone ground, which meant they could withstand the worst of the drought. Some straw needed to be turned but averaged around seven to eight 4x4 bales/ac.
Croom, Co Limerick
There has been little respite from the drought conditions in Croom, but the weather has been excellent throughout the entire harvest. However, straw and grain yields have taken a big hit, explains John. His winter barley averaged 3.1t/ac at 17% moisture. Winter wheat averaged 3.2t/ac, down 25% on last year. His spring crops were sown late due to the wet spring (around mid-May). The harvest was completed last week and his spring barley averaged 2.0t/ac at 17% moisture, with just four 4x4 bales/ac. His spring wheat was cut for crimping and yielded 2.0t/ac.
Jimmy Galvin cutting spring barley in Barrow, Ardfert, Co Kerry.
Ardfert, Co Kerry
Jimmy’s spring barley harvest has gone relatively smoothly, although yields are back slightly. Farming on light sandy soils by the coast, Jimmy normally harvests 3.0t/ac crops, but this year his Planet and Irena spring barley yielded between 2.2t and 2.6t/ac at 15% to 16% moisture. The crop was planted late and tillered well, but suffered the full effects of the drought later on. The weather over the past few weeks has been mixed, but he hopes to bale the straw this week and expects around six 4x4 bales/ac.
Read more
Harvest 18: harvest winding down but broken weather staggers progress
Tillage management: rape to be planted while harvesting remains
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