High moisture levels have hindered opportunities to harvest spring barley in Northern Ireland.
ADVERTISEMENT
Improved weather this week has seen farmers making progress with the remaining grain harvest. Indications are that winter cereals are more or less complete, with any outstanding winter wheat crops being cleared this week.
Harvesting of spring barley is also well under way. However, reports indicate that moisture levels are high, above 20% in some cases. As a result, some farmers have been forced to wait, and are getting on with preparing ground for winter planting.
Where spring barley has been harvested, moisture levels vary from 17% to 19%. To dry the grain down to 14% is probably a cost of around £10 to £15/t.
ADVERTISEMENT
Early reports on spring barley puts yields at 2.5t/acre, although farmers are reporting individual fields yielding from 2.2t to 3t/acre.
Demand for straw remains weak, with little change to prices. Round bales are making £12 to £14 before haulage costs.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
Improved weather this week has seen farmers making progress with the remaining grain harvest. Indications are that winter cereals are more or less complete, with any outstanding winter wheat crops being cleared this week.
Harvesting of spring barley is also well under way. However, reports indicate that moisture levels are high, above 20% in some cases. As a result, some farmers have been forced to wait, and are getting on with preparing ground for winter planting.
Where spring barley has been harvested, moisture levels vary from 17% to 19%. To dry the grain down to 14% is probably a cost of around £10 to £15/t.
Early reports on spring barley puts yields at 2.5t/acre, although farmers are reporting individual fields yielding from 2.2t to 3t/acre.
Demand for straw remains weak, with little change to prices. Round bales are making £12 to £14 before haulage costs.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS