Quality not quantity is the big concern for this year’s harvest

WHILE it is too early to panic there is no doubt that there are now major concerns for the successful completion of the harvest and particularly for grain quality.

Combining over the last two weeks has been very trying. And while combine capacity is significant and farmers themselves are particularly good at capitalising on small windows of opportunities the likely higher moistures will create problems for the timely, efficient and necessary treatment of grain post-harvest.

In the drier grain growing areas of the country upwards of 70pc of the harvest is now complete. In the north east and particularly the west and north west harvesting is much less advanced.

For example, in Athy over 80pc of the harvest is complete. Notwithstanding the weather difficulties, yields appear to be holding up and while not quite at 2015 or 2016 levels there are indications of wheat yields of 1012.35 tonnes per hectare (4 to 5 tonnes per acre) and spring barley yields of up to 9.4 tonnes (3.8 tonnes per acre). Obviously there are typically low yielding crops as well.

With the combining capacity available it is likely that the harvest will not suffer dramatically.

However of more concern will be grain quality, particularly of seed crops. Sprouting is evident in many wheat crops which, together with quality issues, could have implications for seed quality and supply later. The same applies for malting barley.

Up to last week it appeared that protein levels were very high and it was going to be difficult to fill low protein contracts for distillers.

However, I understand from Boortmalt that the deliveries of low protein grain has increased. It appears that 70/80pc of barley from south Wexford is making the distilling standard.

While many local growers have informed me that they have failed to produce any acceptable grain for their distilling contracts, Boortmalt, Athy claim that 30pc of their grain intake is making the standards required.

Despite the slow harvest progress, the new season has already started with many growers already having finished sowing of oilseed rape. 2017 yields have been good and again have been consistent with previous years.

It will, in many cases be the crop that will leave the best returns for growers this year. Last autumns’ good establishment and mild winter, with minimal pigeon damage, led to average yields of around 5 tonnes per hectare this year.

Over 6.25 tonnes were achieved in places. At the realistic yield of 5 tonnes, input costs of €600 and contractor charges of €500 per hectare this will still leave a margin of about €400 per hectare (€160 per acre), assuming an undried price of €360 per tonne.

This is very comparable with 11 tonne crops (4.5 tonnes per acre) of winter wheat.

To achieve high rape yields August sowing and establishment in good seed bed conditions is essential. Hybrid varieties performed well again.

Varieties available will include hybrids DK Extrovert, Sensation, DK Exentiel, SY Harness, PX113 while the conventional will be Anastacia and Elgar. Target seed rates for hybrids should be 40-50 seeds per square meter.

Seed packs containing 1.5 million seeds will sow 3-4 ha (7-10 acres). Conventional varieties should be sown at 60–80 seeds per square metre.

I notice again this year that establishment using deep leg grubbers did not perform as well as the conventional establishment system.

Rape seed is particularly small and a good, firm quality seed bed will give better results.

This, in my opinion, is well worth any extra establishment costs that may be incurred.

Potential slug damage should be monitored closely this year with the wet weather especially if there is a lot of thrash on the surface. Once emergence commences flea beetle damage must also be monitored.

A pyrethroid insecticide should be applied at the first sign of damage. The damage is easy to identify as “shot hole” symptoms on the emerging cotyledon leaves.

A pre emergence herbicide such as Butisan S or Katamaran Turbo should be applied after sowing. The application of a nitrogen and phosphorus containing fertiliser in the seed bed is essential for good establishment especially if fertility indices are at or below 3 for P and K.

YIELDS ARE HOLDING UP DESPITE THE POOR WEATHER BUT ARE NOT QUITE AT 2015 OR 2016 LEVELS