Week four of Harvest’18 saw the first notable amount of rain fall over the weekend, which was enough to halt harvest progress. However, for many, the rain came at the right time, as winter wheat and spring barley crops aren’t fully ripe yet. Good progress has been made in the northwest, which means winter barley is now virtually complete. The winter barley crop has thus far proven to be the star performer of the harvest.
The majority of the winter oat crops are now harvested in most areas, with average yields back, but very good reports of quality. Similarly, the winter oilseed rape harvest is now largely complete, although there are still some areas in the northeast and west to harvest.
Last week saw the winter wheat harvest commence, but progress has been limited to early ground in the south including Wexford, Cork, Kilkenny, Carlow and Kildare. Grain quality is reported to be good, but grain size is small and yields are back. Many more growers signalled their intention to start their wheat harvest this week once weather permits.
Early spring barley crops, including malting barley, were harvested over the week, but overall harvested acreage remains small. Results were as expected, with lower yields and high screenings. Protein levels edged on the high end, with some reports as high as 15%.
Winter wheat:
The winter wheat harvest has begun in a number of areas of the south. However, many more growers will commence their wheat harvest this week. Yield reports are very varied, ranging from 2.0t/ac (second wheat suffering from take-all and the effects of the drought) to 5.0t/ac in the southeast. Grain size is reported to be small, but well-filled. Few bushel weights have been stated, but they are reported to be high.
Yields: yields are very mixed, ranging from 2.0t to 5.0t/ac.
Specific weights: few bushel weights are reported. However, despite the small grain size, initial bushels look promising, ranging from 75 to 78KPH.
Moistures: moistures are reported to be low, ranging from 15% to 17%.
Winter oilseed rape:
The winter oilseed rape harvest is largely complete in the south. Some of the crops in the midlands and northeast were harvested last week, but growers reported high moistures in some cases and opted to hold the harvest until this week.
Yields: yields ranging from 1.2t to 2.2t/ac. Crops further north appear to be yielding slightly better.
Moistures: average moistures are low, ranging from 8% to 11%.
Winter oats:
Winter oats has wrapped up in most parts of the country. While grain yields were back, growers were very pleased with the quality of their oats, with bushels as high as 60KPH reported.
Yields: yields were mixed, ranging from 2.2t to 3.8t/ac.
Specific weights: weights have been improving with later-harvested crops. Bushels are ranging from extremes of 45 to 60.5KPH, with indicative averages in the region of 55KPH.
Moistures: moistures are also variable, ranging from extremes of 11% to 22%. However, national averages remain close to 15%.
Winter barley:
The remaining number of later winter barley crops in the midlands and east were harvested last week and final yield reports remain in line with earlier reports. Good progress has also been made in the northwest last week, as the majority of the winter barley crops are now harvested. Harvest reports from the area range from 3.0t to 4.4t/ac at 15% to 23% moisture content, with bushels of 65 to 68KPH.
Yields: average barley yields remain in the range of 3.2t to 3.9t/ac, but these range from extremes of 1.8t to over 5.0t/ac.
Specific weights: specific weights ranging from 62 to 70KPH were commonly reported.
Moisture: national averages remain close to 15% to 16%.
Spring barley:
The earliest of the spring barley crops have now been harvested in many parts of the country. Crops continue to ripen fast and many more growers intend on starting the harvest later this week. Initial reports are as expected, with lower yields, high screenings and reduced straw yields.
Yields: initial yields are reported to range from 2.0t to 3.5t/ac, but average yields are closer to 2.0t to 2.5t/ac. These reports are from early crops which, in parts, suffered the full effects of the drought.
Moistures: moistures have also been reported as reasonable, ranging from 15% to 22%.
Protein: protein levels are reported to be high, ranging from 8% to 15%. However, many reports are coming in at 12% or above.
Screenings: screenings are reported to be a problem from initial samples. Reports of screenings as high as 30% have been reported.
Initial winter wheat straw yields suggest yields are back. However, the bulk of the harvest has yet to begin. Oaten straw yields are also reported to be slightly lower than average.
Winter barley crops have performed excellently, with few growers reporting a yield of less than 12 bales/acre. All of the winter oilseed rape straw is being baled this year, but is green at the time of harvest and must be allowed to dry first.
Initial spring barley straw yields are also reported to be well back on previous years.
Prices reported for barley straw which was traded over the past seven days ranges from €25 to €35 for a 4x4 round bale from the field, with averages moving closer to €30/bale. However, most of the winter barley straw is either sold or now in store. Wheaten straw is reportedly trading for the same price as barley. Oaten straw is reported to be trading for €5 less than barley straw for a 4x4 round bale. However, some growers have set a flat price for all straw. Oilseed rape straw is reported to be trading for €15 to €20 for a 4x4 round bale from the field. Bale weights
Teagasc estimated weights
Each week we will carry information from growers who provide us with updates of their harvest reports, as well as information from our field visits. This information is collated to produce the harvest summary table which provides the range of values and an indicative average.
Each week, we bring you a number of reports from field visits to growers, as well as from growers who have contacted us, in our interactive Harvest18 map.
Be sure to send us in your harvest updates and help us stay up to date with the progress of your harvest, as it happens. Send us your reports to srobb@farmersjournal.ie or tweet us at @FJTillage.
Read more
Harvest moving at rapid pace
From the Tramlines: winter crop harvest moving well
Grower’s reports: happy with oat quality but disappointed with OSR
Week four of Harvest’18 saw the first notable amount of rain fall over the weekend, which was enough to halt harvest progress. However, for many, the rain came at the right time, as winter wheat and spring barley crops aren’t fully ripe yet. Good progress has been made in the northwest, which means winter barley is now virtually complete. The winter barley crop has thus far proven to be the star performer of the harvest.
The majority of the winter oat crops are now harvested in most areas, with average yields back, but very good reports of quality. Similarly, the winter oilseed rape harvest is now largely complete, although there are still some areas in the northeast and west to harvest.
Last week saw the winter wheat harvest commence, but progress has been limited to early ground in the south including Wexford, Cork, Kilkenny, Carlow and Kildare. Grain quality is reported to be good, but grain size is small and yields are back. Many more growers signalled their intention to start their wheat harvest this week once weather permits.
Early spring barley crops, including malting barley, were harvested over the week, but overall harvested acreage remains small. Results were as expected, with lower yields and high screenings. Protein levels edged on the high end, with some reports as high as 15%.
Winter wheat:
The winter wheat harvest has begun in a number of areas of the south. However, many more growers will commence their wheat harvest this week. Yield reports are very varied, ranging from 2.0t/ac (second wheat suffering from take-all and the effects of the drought) to 5.0t/ac in the southeast. Grain size is reported to be small, but well-filled. Few bushel weights have been stated, but they are reported to be high.
Yields: yields are very mixed, ranging from 2.0t to 5.0t/ac.
Specific weights: few bushel weights are reported. However, despite the small grain size, initial bushels look promising, ranging from 75 to 78KPH.
Moistures: moistures are reported to be low, ranging from 15% to 17%.
Winter oilseed rape:
The winter oilseed rape harvest is largely complete in the south. Some of the crops in the midlands and northeast were harvested last week, but growers reported high moistures in some cases and opted to hold the harvest until this week.
Yields: yields ranging from 1.2t to 2.2t/ac. Crops further north appear to be yielding slightly better.
Moistures: average moistures are low, ranging from 8% to 11%.
Winter oats:
Winter oats has wrapped up in most parts of the country. While grain yields were back, growers were very pleased with the quality of their oats, with bushels as high as 60KPH reported.
Yields: yields were mixed, ranging from 2.2t to 3.8t/ac.
Specific weights: weights have been improving with later-harvested crops. Bushels are ranging from extremes of 45 to 60.5KPH, with indicative averages in the region of 55KPH.
Moistures: moistures are also variable, ranging from extremes of 11% to 22%. However, national averages remain close to 15%.
Winter barley:
The remaining number of later winter barley crops in the midlands and east were harvested last week and final yield reports remain in line with earlier reports. Good progress has also been made in the northwest last week, as the majority of the winter barley crops are now harvested. Harvest reports from the area range from 3.0t to 4.4t/ac at 15% to 23% moisture content, with bushels of 65 to 68KPH.
Yields: average barley yields remain in the range of 3.2t to 3.9t/ac, but these range from extremes of 1.8t to over 5.0t/ac.
Specific weights: specific weights ranging from 62 to 70KPH were commonly reported.
Moisture: national averages remain close to 15% to 16%.
Spring barley:
The earliest of the spring barley crops have now been harvested in many parts of the country. Crops continue to ripen fast and many more growers intend on starting the harvest later this week. Initial reports are as expected, with lower yields, high screenings and reduced straw yields.
Yields: initial yields are reported to range from 2.0t to 3.5t/ac, but average yields are closer to 2.0t to 2.5t/ac. These reports are from early crops which, in parts, suffered the full effects of the drought.
Moistures: moistures have also been reported as reasonable, ranging from 15% to 22%.
Protein: protein levels are reported to be high, ranging from 8% to 15%. However, many reports are coming in at 12% or above.
Screenings: screenings are reported to be a problem from initial samples. Reports of screenings as high as 30% have been reported.
Initial winter wheat straw yields suggest yields are back. However, the bulk of the harvest has yet to begin. Oaten straw yields are also reported to be slightly lower than average.
Winter barley crops have performed excellently, with few growers reporting a yield of less than 12 bales/acre. All of the winter oilseed rape straw is being baled this year, but is green at the time of harvest and must be allowed to dry first.
Initial spring barley straw yields are also reported to be well back on previous years.
Prices reported for barley straw which was traded over the past seven days ranges from €25 to €35 for a 4x4 round bale from the field, with averages moving closer to €30/bale. However, most of the winter barley straw is either sold or now in store. Wheaten straw is reportedly trading for the same price as barley. Oaten straw is reported to be trading for €5 less than barley straw for a 4x4 round bale. However, some growers have set a flat price for all straw. Oilseed rape straw is reported to be trading for €15 to €20 for a 4x4 round bale from the field. Bale weights
Teagasc estimated weights
Each week we will carry information from growers who provide us with updates of their harvest reports, as well as information from our field visits. This information is collated to produce the harvest summary table which provides the range of values and an indicative average.
Each week, we bring you a number of reports from field visits to growers, as well as from growers who have contacted us, in our interactive Harvest18 map.
Be sure to send us in your harvest updates and help us stay up to date with the progress of your harvest, as it happens. Send us your reports to srobb@farmersjournal.ie or tweet us at @FJTillage.
Read more
Harvest moving at rapid pace
From the Tramlines: winter crop harvest moving well
Grower’s reports: happy with oat quality but disappointed with OSR
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