Tom Barry: ‘Respectable' harvest won't make up for lowest grain prices in 40 years
Yields were between 9-9.6t/ha, which is respectable but nowhere near the yields I was achieving with KWS Cassia 10 years ago. Winter barleys need to be passing 10t/ha to keep them competitive.
Next for harvesting was winter-sown Husky oats. This looked like a beautiful crop, received 138kg N/ha based on growth and conditions at the time and the crop yielded 9 t/ha at low moisture. I felt at flag leaf stage that this crop was a little weak on colour, so I added N16 liquid nitrogen with Mg, and certainly this helped given the dry year.
This year, I incorporated liquid N on the winter wheat and the winter rye with the fungicide applications. Two applications of approximately three units of nitrogen per acre each time seemed to really help the crops combat the drought stress.
The proposed ban on urea, I feel, was not completely thought through as urea in a dissolved state has benefits when applied to growing grain crops, given that N applied to the leaf is more efficient than when applied to the soil and becomes immediately available to the plant. Perhaps this aspect of urea in liquified form could be looked at rather than a blanket ban as proposed.
The spring beans direct drilled in early February look well, and most importantly, are podding consistently through the crop. The pod count varies from 30 to 50, which suggests that the yield potential is high.
These beans received two fungicides: firstly, when flowering was about to start and the second application on June 1, as any later would have led to crop damage due to plant height.
I will be repeating this method of establishment next year as direct drilling beans into an oats cover crop worked well on so many levels: there was no bare soil which might leach nutrients; the oat cover crop with its strong rooting structure kept the soil friable and free draining where the beans were set; the allelopathic effect of the oats suppressed weed growth; and there was no crow attack.
Harvest 2025 has the potential to be high yielding. However, the price of grain is very disappointing, mirroring prices seen 40 years ago. The first element of sustainability is to encourage young people into farming. It is important that they can see a viable future in tillage farming. Hopefully, a tillage support scheme will be initiated.
Farm schemes
I applied, with the help of Teagasc, for the 'Farming for Water EIP' scheme and received approval in May. I have approval for 13 measures ranging from a rainwater management plan to water bars and catch crop establishment.
These are all practical measures that I can take to protect water quality. I hope this scheme is successful in gathering farmer support, as water quality is essential on so many levels.
Like all schemes, this is complicated as it is layered on top of other farm schemes such as ACRES (Agri Climate Rural Environment Scheme), BISS (Basic Income Support for Sustainability), ANC (Area of Natural Constraint), TAMS (Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme) and others.
The challenges for tillage farmers are to plan for the three-crop rule, figure out the optimal farm rotation, do not duplicate any measures covered in other schemes, keep the paperwork separate and this must be planned and enacted at field level at the busiest time of the year.
This will require co-operation between planners, DAFM (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) and farmers to ensure its success. No support scheme should be taken for granted, as I experienced recently with my TAMS 3 solar application. Hopefully, any issues will be resolved with a review.
I am currently discing the stubble from the harvested fields as part of my Nitrates obligations and also as an IPM (Integrated Pest Management) strategy for weed and pest control. I will be sowing and rolling in catch crops where planned as part of this.
The fine weather and good ground conditions this year really helped get crop applications completed on time without stress. This allowed for a good work-life balance, including following the magnificent Cork hurlers this year and hoping for All-Ireland glory following a 20-year drought.
I wish everybody a successful and safe harvest.
Read More
Tom Barry: Making time to embrace the spirit of Meitheal in modern farming
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
23-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Tom Barry: ‘Respectable' harvest won't make up for lowest grain prices in 40 years
Harvest 2025 arrived this year in early July. First up was KWS Tardis winter barley. This was in two fields which received dairy slurries at growth stage 25 (mid tillering). Uptake of the organic nutrients was slow as the weather was dry. Yields were between 9-9.6t/ha, which is respectable but nowhere near the yields I was achieving with KWS Cassia 10 years ago. Winter barleys need to be passing 10t/ha to keep them competitive. Next for harvesting was winter-sown Husky oats. This looked like a beautiful crop, received 138kg N/ha based on growth and conditions at the time and the crop yielded 9 t/ha at low moisture. I felt at flag leaf stage that this crop was a little weak on colour, so I added N16 liquid nitrogen with Mg, and certainly this helped given the dry year. This year, I incorporated liquid N on the winter wheat and the winter rye with the fungicide applications. Two applications of approximately three units of nitrogen per acre each time seemed to really help the crops combat the drought stress. The proposed ban on urea, I feel, was not completely thought through as urea in a dissolved state has benefits when applied to growing grain crops, given that N applied to the leaf is more efficient than when applied to the soil and becomes immediately available to the plant. Perhaps this aspect of urea in liquified form could be looked at rather than a blanket ban as proposed. The spring beans direct drilled in early February look well, and most importantly, are podding consistently through the crop. The pod count varies from 30 to 50, which suggests that the yield potential is high. These beans received two fungicides: firstly, when flowering was about to start and the second application on June 1, as any later would have led to crop damage due to plant height. I will be repeating this method of establishment next year as direct drilling beans into an oats cover crop worked well on so many levels: there was no bare soil which might leach nutrients; the oat cover crop with its strong rooting structure kept the soil friable and free draining where the beans were set; the allelopathic effect of the oats suppressed weed growth; and there was no crow attack. Harvest 2025 has the potential to be high yielding. However, the price of grain is very disappointing, mirroring prices seen 40 years ago. The first element of sustainability is to encourage young people into farming. It is important that they can see a viable future in tillage farming. Hopefully, a tillage support scheme will be initiated. Farm schemes I applied, with the help of Teagasc, for the 'Farming for Water EIP' scheme and received approval in May. I have approval for 13 measures ranging from a rainwater management plan to water bars and catch crop establishment. These are all practical measures that I can take to protect water quality. I hope this scheme is successful in gathering farmer support, as water quality is essential on so many levels. Like all schemes, this is complicated as it is layered on top of other farm schemes such as ACRES (Agri Climate Rural Environment Scheme), BISS (Basic Income Support for Sustainability), ANC (Area of Natural Constraint), TAMS (Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme) and others. The challenges for tillage farmers are to plan for the three-crop rule, figure out the optimal farm rotation, do not duplicate any measures covered in other schemes, keep the paperwork separate and this must be planned and enacted at field level at the busiest time of the year. This will require co-operation between planners, DAFM (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) and farmers to ensure its success. No support scheme should be taken for granted, as I experienced recently with my TAMS 3 solar application. Hopefully, any issues will be resolved with a review. I am currently discing the stubble from the harvested fields as part of my Nitrates obligations and also as an IPM (Integrated Pest Management) strategy for weed and pest control. I will be sowing and rolling in catch crops where planned as part of this. The fine weather and good ground conditions this year really helped get crop applications completed on time without stress. This allowed for a good work-life balance, including following the magnificent Cork hurlers this year and hoping for All-Ireland glory following a 20-year drought. I wish everybody a successful and safe harvest. Read More Tom Barry: Making time to embrace the spirit of Meitheal in modern farming
Agriland
29-06-2025
- Agriland
AHDB: International grain and oilseed prices on the rise
International grain and oilseed prices rises have risen in line with a strengthening oil market, according to analysts with the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB). There are also indications that crop concerns and short covering by speculative traders have supported cereal prices over recent days. In the US, heavy rain has delayed the winter wheat harvest, while spring wheat crops have improved after a dry start. Meanwhile, conditions continue to look generally positive for maize and soya bean crops with planting almost complete. Limited rainfall is also a concern in Canada. According to AHDB, planting is complete in the top grain and canola (rapeseed) growing province, Saskatchewan. However, rain will be needed to support crop development. In France, ongoing dry weather has meant declines in crop condition scores. The winter barley harvest is now underway in that country. Where spring barley is concerned, the proportion in 'good or very good' condition has fallen from 71% to 67% over recent days. Dry weather is also impacting Russia, particularly in the country's main winter wheat growing areas. However, the Russian government currently forecasts the 2025 crop at 90.0 megatonnes (Mt), up from last year's 82.6Mt. In addition, the grain harvest is also underway in southern Ukraine, which has likewise felt the effects of dry weather. The country's farm ministry expects a wheat crop of 20.0–22.0Mt, compared to almost 23.0Mt in 2024. Irish cereals harvest The Irish winter barley harvest is expected to kick-off in a few days' time. The forecast yields for all winter cereal crops grown in Ireland during 2024/25 remain strong. In contrast, many spring crops sown out in April came under considerable stress on the back of the very dry conditions across the country during the entire month of May. The winter oilseed rape harvest will follow on at the end of July. And here again, yields look to be promising despite the significant damage caused by pigeons grazing many crops back in February. Disease pressure on crops remains low at the present time. However, bucking this trend somewhat has been a late season impact of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus on spring barley crops. Teagasc research scientists are currently investigating the reasons for this. Meanwhile, Met Éireann is forecasting somewhat changeable weather for the first week of July. However, there is the prospect of drier and warmer conditions prevailing as the month progresses.
Agriland
11-06-2025
- Agriland
Met Éireann issues nationwide advisory for potato blight
Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow advisory for potato blight over the coming days across the country. The national forecaster said that conditions conductive to the spread of blight will develop nationwide on Thursday and Friday (June 12-13). Met Éireann advised growers that there will be opportunities for spraying today (Wednesday, June 11). Blight Potato blight, caused by the pathogen Phytophthora infestans, poses a significant threat to potato crops in Ireland and globally. Despite recent advances in fungicides, improved varieties and better disease forecasting, Teagasc said that there is still no means of eradicating an outbreak in a crop. Therefore, disease prevention is key. Weather conditions which favour the spread of the disease occur when temperatures rise above 10°C and relative humidity rises above 95%. The typical mild, damp Irish summer can provide the ideal conditions for the spread of the disease. Teagasc has estimated that some €5 million is spent annually on fungicides in Ireland to mitigate against the disease. Met Éireann Met Éireann has said that during the coming week there will be unsettled weather across the country, with rain and showers at times. Some of the showers will be heavy and with a likelihood of thunderstorms developing, particularly in the next few days. Rainfall amounts are expected to be close to or above average in most areas, and one and a half to twice the average in parts of the east, midlands and north. Mean temperatures are expected to be close to average in the south and west, and a degree above normal values in the east and north of the country. Soil temperatures are expected to rise a little over the coming seven days. Soil moisture deficits are generally between 0mm and +45mm with the driest soils in the south. However, Met Éireann noted that most soils in the north midlands are very close to saturation. Soil moisture deficits will continue to decrease in the coming week.
