Julian Ashmore

Wexford

Crops need rain. Some of the last barley we planted on 14 May got no drop of rain at all and it’s looking fairly miserable. Crops that went in the end of April in heavy ground are looking OK.

Straw yields will be back. If they get rain it might lengthen. I’ve heard nothing on price, but it won’t be chopped anyway.

Peter Lynch

Donegal

We’ve had a pretty good spring in Donegal. Crops are looking well even in terms of the disease. The fear for this year is that we could have used up our good weather and harvest will be tricky.

Everyone is looking for straw. There’s people ringing, not even asking the price but just wanting an extra load this year. There’s no straw left in the sheds and they don’t want to run out next year again.

James Hegarty

Cork

There’s an awful lot of forage maize gone in, grown on contract. That’s making up for lost time. Winter barley is getting lovely weather for filling. It’s been good for flouring on wheat up to now and disease levels are low enough. The big issue is the late-sown spring barley and lack of water.

I’m hearing figures of €20 for a round bale of straw.

Patrick Dehaene

Dublin

I actually think it’s too late [for spring crops]. If it does rain the crop is too small, too near the ground and the heads are coming out. I fear that by the time the crop ripens the heads will be that low that the combine won’t be able to pick them up. It’s just going to be a salvage operation.

Feed barley [prices] took a big rally there a couple of weeks ago and then settled back down again. Imported protein prices will be high.

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