Reports from agronomists indicate that 70% to 80% of planned winter planting has been completed in NI by the start of November.

Local growers capitalised on dry spells during late September and mid-October to progress with winter barley planting, with estimates suggesting that acreage is up between 10% and 20% year on year.

While the window for planting winter barley and oats has passed, the wet weather of recent weeks mean farmers now face a huge challenge to get winter wheat established

There is also a sizeable acreage of potatoes, and some maize still to harvest, before ground can be ploughed and sown out in winter wheat.

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