Harvest 2026 is coming to an end and by common consent it has been another challenging year for Irish tillage.

This makes it, metaphorically speaking, the fifth out of six growing seasons when the sun did not shine on the sector.

Growers have had to cope with periods of extreme weather, particularly at key stages in crops’ production cycle: the end result was a significant reduction in yields

Prices, for the most part, have also been poor or very poor: the end result here was a significant impact on crop margins.

And then there have been the years, 2026 being one of them, when tillage farmers found themselves battling extreme weather and the markets at the same time.

Meanwhile, the levels of investment required simply to keep a tillage enterprise ticking over continue to escalate.

Harvest 2026

So, yes, harvest 2026 is over. But it was not all bad news.

Growers had the opportunity of combining crops in almost perfect conditions.

There were no drying charges and straw was baled as soon as it dropped back on to the stubble.

But the yields just were not there. And we have the drought of June, July and August to thank for that.

Tillage support

So the question becomes: will Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon come to the rescue of the tillage industry over the coming weeks?

He can if he wants to.

Budget 2027 is coming up in less than four weeks’ time.

The government has the opportunity of committing again to a tillage support payment, which would act to boost cash flows, particularly on hard-pressed cropping farms.

And then there’s Ireland’s presidency of the European Union.

Traditionally, this honour provides the hosting member state with a unique opportunity to influence policy across so many aspects of the EU’s priorities.

Everyone agrees that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is crying out for reform.

A CAP that is more flexible, recognising the specific needs of farmers on a regional basis, would be a good news story for Ireland and Irish agriculture.

Crop Forum

But it is not all gloom and doom for the tillage sector.

Last week’s Crops Forum confirmed the options that are out there when it comes to farmers having more control over their own destinies.

And the putting in place of rotation policies that maximise the performance of both break crops and cereals are at the very heart of these processes.

No doubt all of these issues will be discussed at the upcoming 2026 National Ploughing Championships.