Harvesting

Combines have made big process in winter barley across most of the country and now there is a significant amount of winter oats cut. Rape harvesting has begun and it seems inevitable that spring barley will begin next week or earlier.

So far it would seem that winter barley yields are back by 0.5 to 0.75 t/ac on last year. There was limited improvement in yields as the harvest progressed but it seems that rotation and land quality have had a big bearing on output level. Moistures have been generally low and this has undoubtedly helped specific weights in a crop that did not fill to capacity, as evidenced by screening levels.

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Winter oat yields are disappointing also but hardly surprising given that this crop likes frequent rainfall. Specific weights are generally in the 50-55KPH bracket but there are higher and lower. Yields are trending in the 3.2-3.5 t/ac bracket but again there are some higher and some much lower.

Straw

Yields are quite high in most crops but range from 13-17 bales per acre. But bale number is hardly an accurate measure of yield, given the variability in bale weights.

Green straw and recent mist has slowed progress with baling. Many comment on either the white or pink colouration in straw this year. The white colour is likely an indication of a crop that was heavily influenced by lack of water in the closing phases of growth. The pink, on the other hand, is most likely to be immature straw where the crop was cut at low grain moisture while the straw was still rare. This discolouration is more often associated with oats where this situation is more common.

Demand for straw is high with buyers generally willing to clear fields rapidly to ensure supply. Prices are all over the place but there are now very few reports of straw at less than €25 per 4x4 baled ex field and this is up to €30/bale in some areas. But it must also be said that regular annual customers paid less for straw in deals that were done many weeks ago. For those selling on the flat, per acre prices for winter barley for baling tend to be €250 to €300/ac.

Desiccation

While crops are coming in very quickly, some fields have areas with late green tillers that may warrant burning off with glyphosate. Where this problem exists there may only be merit in desiccating those patches. If you have enough time to enable glyphosate to work there is still no merit in using excessive rates which just increase the risk of residues. Reglone (diquat) does not have clearance for crop desiccation.

Catch crops

With fields already cleared of straw and many others likely to be cleared by 1 August, there is a real opportunity to plant catch crops to provide forage where it is wanted. Species choice will depend on the rotation and the next crop but forage may provide additional income.

Consider a crop mix that can be taken for ensiling rather than grazing. That will allow fields for winter cropping to be cleared in mid to late October.