E-Malt.com News article: Ireland: Barley harvest hampered by poor weather

Less than 50% of the Irish winter barley crop has been cut so far as poor weather continues to cause havoc with the harvest, Independent.ie reported on August, 4.

Farmers are struggling to work between the showers and while good progress has been made across the south, harvesting in the midlands and the northeast has been disrupted.

Crop quality is reported to be holding up, although straw breakdown is causing difficulties in some areas.

It has been difficult to get accurate yields, with anything from 2.8 t/ac to 4 t/ac being recorded. The general range is between 3.2 t/ac and 3.7 t/ac, it is reported.

Meanwhile, there has been widespread relief that Greencore has reversed its decision to close three branches and one intake depot for this harvest.

Company plans to shut depots at Stradbally, Tinturn and Castlebridge, as well as moving barley intake from Emo to Rosenalis, sparked a farmer protest outside the Greencore Malt plant in Athy, Co Kildare, last week.

The protest was lifted when an agreement was brokered between the IFA and the company that suspended the threatened depot closures.

As part of the deal, Castlebridge and Tinturn in Co Wexford and Stradbally, Co Laois, will operate as tipping and re-loading points, while Emo will stay a full intake point.

IFA national grain chairman Colum McDonnell said growers had been angered by the last-minute Greencore changes: "In the past, any changes were negotiated and agreed before implementation. This should apply in the future and growers should know in advance of sowing a crop."

Negotiations on this year's malting barley price are continuing but the talks have proved extremely difficult.

The outlook for feed barley prices remains disappointing, although unconfirmed reports say that independent merchants in the southeast have informed farmers that they are in the market for grain.

However, it is understood that some of the main players are pushing for the harvest price to be set at less than €90/t.


05 August, 2009