Last week’s weather put a stop to work in the fields, but a drier spell looks to be on the way. Winter barley and some oat straw remain either in fields or in the rows in many cases.Catch crops are currently being planted as straw moves out of fields.

Some farmers expect to be cutting spring barley this weekend, which is extremely early for the crop. Other crops are about two weeks away. Spring barley crops do not look too promising at present. One farmer told the Irish Farmers Journal this week he expected to get only five 4x4 bales per acre from his spring barley and will chop the straw.

Crop tour

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Next week the Irish Farmers Journal will bring the harvest to your door, posting a video every evening at 7pm from the Irish Farmers Journal Crop Tour 2025. We will meet agronomists and farmers, estimate grain and straw yields, discuss the season gone by and changes for next season. We’ll also report findings in the paper. Catch up on the Crop Tour by scanning the QR code on page 38.