The conundrum for tillage growers at the moment – do they push ahead with the seed they have already purchased, or do they push on with additionally purchased spring barley seed, assuming it can be purchased?
It is now apparent that a significant number of Irish tillage farmers bought imported spring wheat seed some weeks ago with the intention of getting crops into the ground long before this.
However, it is only now that planting conditions seem to be improving.
It is an issue addressed by Teagasc crops specialist, Shay Phelan, on the latest Tillage Edge podcast.
Significantly, he points out that merchants will not buy back seed that has already been delivered on farm.
Phelan said: “Merchants have gone to the well in sourcing seed from countries across Europe. So, they will be at the loss of these stocks if they are not planted.”
Another option for growers is to let ground lie fallow in 2024 and plant out the spring wheat seed already purchased next year.
Tillage land
Teagasc tillage specialist, Ciaran Collins, believes there will be a reduction in the area of land planted out in crops this year.
“Spring wheat crops planted now confront two challenges – a late harvest and compromised yields.
“The reality is that 2.5t/ac is a breakeven yield. But, whole cropping spring wheat is also an option. On the livestock side, there is a forage scarcity.
“There will be a strong demand for silage as the year progresses. So, lining up a client for a whole crop wheat option may well be the best decision for tillage farmers to make over the coming weeks,” he added.
Beans
The planting of beans, however, is a much more complicated matter. According to Collins, the boat would normally have sailed by this stage for the crop in a normal year.
“We have a protein payment this year that will be between €400 and €500/ha, depending on the area that is sown,” Collins continued.
“Back in 2018, we had late sown beans. A drought followed and the national yield average came in at only 1t/ac.
“Obviously, we don’t know how the weather will behave over the coming months. But growers planting beans now will be looking at a late harvest, no matter how the weather pans out.
“However, a resulting yield of, let’s say, 1t/ac still leaves a positive margin, given the impact of the protein payment,” he explained.