The national grain harvest is significantly ahead of normal due to the recent August heatwave conditions, according to IFA Grain Committee Members.
Wheat and spring barley harvesting is 85% to 100% complete in the south, southeast, south midlands and in the mid-east. Spring oat and spring wheat crops must still be cut in these areas.
In the west and northwestern counties, where spring barley is the main crop, the harvest is 20% to 40% complete.
Winter wheat yields are reported as “good to very good” with yield ranges of 3.7 to 5.3t/ac. Grain quality is “excellent” with high to very high bushel weights recorded.
Spring barley crops are reported as yielding well nationally, occupying a range of 2.8 to 4.0t/ac. Bushel weights are also very good.
Straw demand is variable by location but sales are reported as steady overall. Quality remains excellent due to prompt baling.
Grain moistures are very dry in all harvested crops to date and some have hit unprecedented lows of 11% to 12%, with 14% to 15% being typical. This is at least 4% to 5% lower than normal and will substantially reduce drying costs.
Harvest of winter and spring beans has begun on some light soils, with disappointing yields. However, the majority of spring bean crops are still two to four weeks away from harvest.