Wheat harvest may begin in central Dakota next week, with custom cutting now progressed well into Kansas, but wet ground is slowing progress.

This is what farmers travelling with the Irish Tillage and Land Use Society have witnessed on their current trip to the US.

Yields are good and prospects further north also seem good. As we travel south from North Dakota towards Nebraska, we have moved from headed spring wheat to turning winter wheat.

I estimate that the hard red wheat in the picture is about 16% to 17% moisture but it will not be harvested until next week when it may well be below 12% moisture.

Brexit has also got the attention of many farmers in the Dakotas, who are curious of what the consequences will be.

Full reports to come in the Irish Farmers Journal in the coming weeks.

Read more

Watch: winter wheat unusually clean

Advice on potato blight following first warning issued in NI