Harvest variability

Most of us will hardly be surprised that we are seeing such variability in crop performance. Fields that were visibly affected by drought for weeks have suffered, giving poor grain yield and quality but those that hung on continue to show potential.

With reports of harvested grain down to 10% moisture, growers are advised to monitor grain maturity to guide harvest rather than crop appearance. Be prepared to move when and if you get moisture tests below 18%.

Yield reports range from 1.8t/ac to over 3.8 t/ac. Each crop performance can probably be explained. Some growers are now nearly finished winter barley while others have not yet begun. Quality is largely following yield and later crops seem to be yielding better. Straw yields are a bit variable also and they tend to run with grain yield.

Prices

Grain prices continue to bounce about and they cannot be described as settled upwards. The market has moved from being driven by weather to politics. Trade sanctions now play an uncertain role. But weather remains the main driver of supply and so price movement for 2018/19 will be driven by the fortunes or misfortunes of maize.

Merchant users offered up to €197/t for dry wheat for harvest up to recently but general trading prices are about €10/t lower. Green barley prices seem to be either side of €165/t, with the trade offering dry barley at €190/t out to next year.

Demand for straw remains unprecedented with prices of up to €35 being offered for 4x4 round bales. Availability is reduced by the lower cereal area, poor spring barley crops and the significant sale of wheat crops for whole-crop silage.

Whole crop

There is strong interest in whole-crop this season as a result of the fodder crisis. With crops maturing rapidly in the field, the window to harvest and ensile winter crops will be closing fast. Anyone who wants whole-crop winter wheat or spring barley needs to be talking now.

Valuing immature crops must relate in some way to the yield of the green (20% moisture) or dry crop. Immature crops are likely to remove much more P and K than normal harvesting and this should be reflected in price.

Where a harvested crop produces 4.5 t/ac @€180/t, plus straw to the value of €150/ac, this is €960/ac. So €1,000/ac for whole crop is really only giving the savings on harvesting. Many fields may yield more than 4.5 t/ac but some will be poorer.

If you clear fields early use the opportunity to plant catch or fodder crops and to spread organics.

Catch crops

Many growers have already experienced the benefits of catch crops on owned land. This is easiest done following winter barley or other early harvests.

Get these crops planted as quickly as possible using min-till. Soil will be dry so you will have to wait for rain to get germination. But it is better to do this than to have to wait to cultivate post rain and risk losing moisture again. Grass seeds become an option if you have a customer.