Harvest progress is best judged by the mountains of grain that have appeared at grain intakes in recent days.

The good weather has enabled significant harvest progress this week with all reports indicating no loss of quality.

With close to 75% of the harvest now completed nationally, it is likely that most of the last 25% to 30% will be gathered over the coming week as the forecast continues good. Parts of the south are over 80% through, while this might only be 60% to 65% further north.

Yields remain good across all crops in almost all regions, but it is unlikely that we will have a record national output.

Spring barley yields are now back at either side of 3t/ac but there are still 3.5t/ac crops being harvested. The risk of straw breakdown has increased the urgency to get crops cut, but losses remain relatively low. There has been very little rejection for malting this year and grain quality is good across all crops. Feed barley yields are also good and frequently running above 3t/ac so far.

Winter wheat yields are averaging between 4.3t/ac and 4.5t/ac and generally ranging from 4.0t/ac up to 5.2t/ac. Grain quality is good, but appearance and yield might suggest it could be even higher.

Spring oats is now being harvested alongside the last of the winter oilseed rape. Combines are moving into winter beans also.

Prices for the coming weeks have remained relatively flat over the past week but international demand and markets indicate that green barley prices could possibly exceed €200/t as all other feed prices climb around maize. Dry prices currently exceed €230/t for barley and €245/t for wheat.