Combine harvesters could be 'rolling' by early July - agronomist
Winter cereal crops are fast ripening with the prospects of combine harvesters rolling soon to become a reality.
Weather permitting, the first of this year’s winter barley crops could be harvested during the week commencing Monday, July 6.
This is according to Teagasc tillage specialist, Shay Phelan
He said: “Had we seen the continuation of the hot spell that impacted across Ireland a few weeks ago, we could well have seen the combines roiling at the end of June this year.
“But the return of the rains and more changeable weather conditions has pushed the start of harvest 2026 back to July.”
Invariably, crops of Joyau will be the first to be harvested this year.
The six-row option is the earliest winter barley option grown in Ireland. It is also Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) tolerant.
BYDV
“Winter barley crops that were planted early and had a pre-emergent herbicide applied in tandem with the early application of an insecticide have significant yield potential," Phelan said.
“This is especially the case if the crops also received early nitrogen in the spring.
“In contrast, some later sown winter barley crops have suffered quite badly.
"Ground conditions later in the autumn prevented growers from applying a pre emergence herbicide and an insecticide to prevent BYDV.”
Meanwhile, agronomists are keen to find out how BYDV tolerant winter barley varieties fare in terms of their final yields in 2026.
It was evident that many of these crops had shown BYDV symptoms last autumn.
So the big question becomes: will these varieties succeed in delivering acceptable yields despite showing signs of infection at those early growth stages?
Spring barley
Meanwhile, this week will see growers of spring barley crops finalising their disease control programmes.
Ramularia and net blotch have the potential to significantly to reduce final yields.
Timely spraying to ensure that neither disease gets a foothold with crops is the only way of ensuring this does not happen.
Turning to potatoes, Phelan confirmed that blight has already become an issue this season.
“The disease has been identified in some second early crops,” he said.
“Given this level of challenge, it is important that growers adhere to a regular spraying programme, alternating fungicide chemistries so as to minimise the threat of blight resistance.”
According to the Teagasc agronomist, the threat from blight remains very real.
"Teagasc research has confirmed the growing range of disease variants that are in circulation here in Ireland.
“And this is a European-wide challenge," Phelan explained.
