Farm lobby groups expect all of Ireland’s key grain buyers to publish their harvest 2026 price schedules before the end of this month.

This follows the confirmation by Centenary Co-op Thurles of its new pricing arrangements on Friday (September 18).

This sees feed barley at a projected price of €225/t with feed wheat and oats set at €237 and €220 respectively.

Irish Grain Growers Group (IGGG) secretary Clive Carter commented: “We expect all the other grain merchants to match this commitment and, if possible, to exceed it.”

But, according to the IGGG representative, the Centenary price offer will just about allow tillage farmers keep their heads above water.

He explained: “Given the immense pressure on all input costs over the last number of months, there is no scope to allow cereal growers consolidate their businesses, never mind invest in the future.”

Grain prices

While the Centenary price schedule is up on last year, there is significant frustration at grower level to the effect that global grain prices have not risen more sharply up to this point.

This viewpoint reflects the fact that grain yields were impacted by the drought conditions that ravaged all of Europe throughout the summer of 2026.

All of this brings Budget 2027 into sharp focus. It takes place on Tuesday, October 6. Its timing closely aligned with the ongoing discussions to agree a new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

Carter said: “The onus remains on the government to agree a meaningful support payment for tillage farmers in the upcoming Budget.

The IGGG representative pointed out that the scope to significantly increase the proportion of coupled payments within the overall CAP budget has already been agreed in principle.

He added: “It is also imperative for the Straw Incorporation Measure and the Protein Aid Scheme to be included in the new CAP arrangements, again as coupled payments.”

IGGG members are committed to ensuring that the pre-2024 election promises made by both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, regarding future support measures for Ireland’s tillage sector, are fully upheld.

This works out at €300 million over the lifetime of the current Dáil.