As spring barley and winter wheat crops come under the knife, it seems like the wait will have been worthwhile. Early yield indications for winter wheat range from 4t to 5t/ac.

Spring barley yields are not as exciting but most malting barley is meeting quality specs. Proteins may become an issue.

Boortmalt recently moved to increase the upper protein limit for distilling from 8.8% to 9.3%. However, the 10.8% cut-off for brewing is being breached. Skinning is not currently an issue. Boortmalt, Glanbia and Dairygold all say that grain quality is good so far.

Winter oats has also yielded well and spring oats looks good, with some early crops harvested already.

There is a lot of straw still on the ground but this may be gathered later in the week.

Grain

Most of the winter barley is mopped up in Kerry, according to Peter McElligott.

“Yields varied from 3.5 to 4.3t/acre. Crops here are ripening earlier than normal but spring barley will be another week. Poor weather over the past week has enabled farmers to prepare their applications for the 2016 harvest crisis fund. Farmers are disappointed that straw losses are not included in the scheme.”

Donegal farmer Peter Lynch also tells a story of lack of progress.

Disappointing

“We’re finished winter barley and it’s mostly wrapped up locally. Yields are back about 0.4t/acre – disappointing.

“Potatoes look good but it’s been hard to get spraying done”.

Wexford farmer Art Murphy is just starting his spring barley.

“We have no field cut yet so we’re not sure of yields, but they look decent. Protein is a concern – levels are up 1.5 points on last year, from around 9% to 10.5% and that’s too close to the 10.8% cut-off. Our winter barley averaged 3.86t/ac with winter oats finishing at 4.44t/ac.”

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