The winter barley harvest is close to being wrapped up in the southern half of the country, although straw remains to be baled.

Many growers have completed cutting their early crops. About 80% is cut in the southern half of the country, with over two-thirds cut in Donegal. Winter oats and OSR yields continue to vary, with some good crops reported.

The first spring barley has been cut. Liam Dunne harvested Laureate barley, sown in late January.

It yielded over 7.5t/ha (3t/acre), and passed for malt.

Concern continues to mount on the effect that green grains will have on malting barley

Another field that was damaged by crows was closer to 6.5t ha.

With the forecast for the coming week predicting sunshine and a few settled days, a trickle of spring barley will be cut, but many crops have ripening to do still.

Concern continues to mount on the effect that green grains will have on malting barley.

While there has still been no clarity in relation to growers’ contracts, Boortmalt has indicated that it will now take all in-spec malting barley.

Malt concerns

Boortmalt says the trend from the field sampling suggests that the tonnage of in-spec malting barley is unlikely to fulfil its requirements for brewing or distilling.

If growers have concerns about the proportion of green grain in their crop, they are advised to contact the local Boortmalt adviser.

Boortmalt has committed to daily conference calls with both the IFA and its malt customers

An indicative sample for protein can be taken in the field, and some such samples have proven suitable on protein, which is likely to be the main rejection issue.

If farmers are in a position to wait to allow the green grain in crops to develop as much as possible, they should.

Boortmalt has committed to daily conference calls with both the IFA and its malt customers as the malting barley harvest unfolds.

Glanbia and Dairygold say they will buy all in-spec contracted barley.