Tillage farmers produced almost 2.6m tonnes of cereals in 2015, up slightly on 2014, according to the Teagasc Harvest Report. While the total cereal area fell by 5% or 15,600ha, winter and spring wheat and barley, and winter oats delivered record yields. This reflected an excellent growing season and harvest conditions.

Winter wheat

Yields were exceptional at 11t/ha (range of 9.5t/ha to 12.5 t/ha) with many farms achieving record yields. Average moisture content at harvest was 19.8% and grain quality was very good, with hectolitre weight averaging 74.4kg/hl.

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Winter barley

The area of winter barley exceeded the area of winter wheat for the first time in 2015. Many growers and agronomists believed crops would be average due to their thin appearance but the cool summer allowed crops to maximise the grain sites available, resulting in record yields.

Yields averaged 10.2t/ha (7.5t/ha to 11.5 t/ha) at 18.7% moisture and 66.0 kg/hl grain quality.

Winter oats

Yields from winter oats were the highest ever recorded at 9.2t/ha (6.5t/ha to 10.5 t/ha). Quality was good with specific weights averaging 53.7kg/hl. The winter oat area climbed slightly to 11,400ha.

Spring wheat

Crops yielded 8.6t/ha (range of 6.3t/ha to 9.8t/ha) with good grain quality at 73.5kg/hl. The crop recovered some area in 2015, rising to 10,000ha.

Spring barley

The crop achieved a record yield of 7.7t/ha (6.5t/ha to 8.8 t/ha) with some exceeding 10.0t/ha. Grain moisture was average at 18.2% with good hectolitre weights (64.6 kg/hl). Spring barley area is expected to fall in 2016.

Spring oats

Average yield was well above at 7.7t/ha (range of 5.3 to 8.6 t/ha). Quality was average at 53.4 kg/hl.

Other crops

Winter oilseed rape crops yielded 4.7t/ha (4.3t/ha to 5.5 t/ha) with moistures of 10.9%. Spring crops yielded quite well at 3.0t/ha (2.5t/ha to 3.7t/ha) with good moistures (11.6%).

Spring bean yields were excellent at 6.7t/ha (5.5t/ha to 8.0t/ha) with some crops achieving 10t/ha. Moistures were slightly high at 21.5%.

The area of potatoes in 2015 fell by 13% to 8,106ha, due to oversupply in 2014 forcing growers to hold on to potatoes longer than normal and sell at a loss.