Teagasc Harvest Report Confirms Drop in Cereal Yields

Issued 5 September, 2002

Yields of the main cereal crops are down by 1.25 tonnes per hectare (0.5 tonnes/acre), according to the first grain harvest report of 2002 published by Teagasc.

With 95% of the barley crop harvested and over 75% of the winter wheat harvest completed, the report confirms the impact of the bad weather in late May, June and July.

Spring barley yields are averaging 5.5 tonnes/hectare (2.2 tonnes/acre), down by 1.5 tonnes/hectare (0.6 tonnes/acre) on 2001. This brings yields back to their lowest level since 1998.

Winter wheat, which doubled in acreage this year, has dropped by 1.25 tonnes/hectare (0.5 tonnes/acre). Average yields so far this harvest are 8.75 tonnes/hectare (3.5 tonnes/acre), which are also the lowest since 1998.

With some of the smaller acreage crops, there is some respite for growers. Both winter and spring oats have returned yields similar to last year. However, yields of winter barley crops are down by around 1.25 tonnes/hectare (0.5 tonnes/acre).

According to Jim O'Mahony, Chief Tillage Adviser with Teagasc, the drop in yields is a direct result of difficult growing conditions and very high disease pressures.

"In 2000 and 2001, Irish spring barley and winter wheat growers had the highest yields in Europe. They will almost certainly be knocked off that perch this year", he said.

Mr O'Mahony said that lower yields, reduced prices for grain and additional disease control costs, in order to minimise the effects of the bad weather, will have a significant impact on tillage incomes in 2002. Many tillage farmers could see their incomes fall by 50%.

Jim O'Mahony said improved yields of straw and increased prices for barley straw is providing some consolation to tillage farmers.