Harvest is in full swing across the country with farmers cutting winter wheat and spring barley well before the end of July, which is extremely early and a record on some farms.

With good weather on the way, a large majority of farmers are expected to be cutting by the weekend and rain forecast for Sunday will put some pressure on.

Spring barley was hitting 3t/ac in Co Cork, with similar yeilds further up the country.

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The average yield estimate for spring barley on the Irish Farmers Journal Crop Tour this week was placed at 2.75t/ac. Protein contents were also reported within malting standards with moisture contents of 20% and below, and many cutting at 17-18%. KPH was generally reported at 66-68.

Winter wheat kicked off properly last Sunday and Monday, while farmers continued to cut oilseed rape this week and winter oats over the weekend.

Winter wheat has been making the 4t/ac mark and higher after break crops with many reporting yields of up to 4.5t/ac and some exceptions hitting 5t/ac.

Oilseed rape has really turned out well for many growers. The range in yields being reported is from 1.8-2.6t/ac, with many reports of 2.2-2.5t/ac. Winter and spring oats were being harvested at the same time in some areas with spring oats reported to be coming in at around 3.3t/ac and winter oats at 3.5t/ac or around that figure.

Spring barley straw yields are expected to be poor. There are very variable crops out there which are thin and straw yields estimated by agronomists are from four to 10 4x4 bales/ac.

The good weather earlier this week allowed many farmers to get winter barley straw baled up in good conditions. Demand for barley straw is reported to be picking up this week.