Grain markets continue to harden as international markets reassess total supply for the coming season.

Last Tuesday week, the MATIF market for December wheat closed at €230/t, having been down to €199.50/t in early July. This Tuesday, it closed at €237.75/t and physical prices are up at least €5/t in response.

While things can still go wrong for harvest prices, the downside is limited by higher imported maize prices. These have now climbed up to €250/t for November and beyond.

Local prices

Local prices for November are now higher than the forward selling prices were at peak during the year, with wheat at or above €235/t and barley knocking at €225/t.

Spot prices are even higher currently as imports are limited.

Harvest progress

Harvest progress was very limited over most of the past week, with some growers getting nothing cut while others further south got some cutting done most days.

Spring barley yields continue to be mainly above 3t/ac, with many early crops exceeding 3.5t/ac at 17% to 18% moisture. Quality is good and protein levels appear to be somewhat higher as harvest progresses. Straw brackling is now a concern.

There is still quite an amount of winter rape to be harvested. Yield reports are generally good following some disappointing early yields, with averages now running close to 1.8t/ac.

A number of crops have exceeded 2t/ac, with an occasional report at over 2.25t/ac.

There is an amount of winter wheat harvested now too, with early yield reports mainly good to excellent at 4.4t/ac to 5.4t/ac and high straw yields. But it’s early days yet.

It has not been possible to gather straw left on the ground over the past week and wet rows take a lot of effort to bale.

If the weather remains very broken it is likely that some growers will opt to chop more straw to get fields cleared.