The rain arrived in time for the crops with some notable heavy falls. A resurgence in growth followed. Even some drought stressed fields made a miraculous recovery.

This has thickened up crops dramatically with some of the heavier crops requiring Terpal (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid + mepiquat chloride) to shorten and stiffen the straw.

Warm summer sunshine throughout July will give the barley the ideal opportunity to fill the grain although rain will be needed to complete grain fill and swell the grain. High-quality grain is what we strive to produce to meet our contract. Early indications suggest that yield and quality will be good.

The good weather made spraying crops a lot easier and everything was completed with ease. I also found time to win the Sprayer Operator of the Year run by the Irish Farmers Journal, Syngenta and Teagasc. Being a part of this competition has been thoroughly enjoyable and has made me focus and how I can improve all aspects of the job

Record rainfall in Canada and Eastern Europe has downgraded their harvest and will hopefully lead to a positive influence on grain prices. Although it is too early to know how much of an affect it will have, the outlook for grain prices this harvest is improving.

News of a proposal to remove the winter ploughing ban from the Nitrates Directive will be most welcome to Irish tillage farmers. Land destined for spring cereals can be ploughed from the beginning of December onwards, ground conditions permitting.

This year’s harvest will be our first using a tractor on tracks for cultivation work. Deeper than usual cultivation has been necessary to give improved drainage and soil structure. The additional traction available will ensure work rates are not compromised when working the 6-metre Vaderstad TopDown at a depth of 4-6 inches.

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