Latest news with #StrawIncorporationMeasure
Agriland
02-08-2025
- Climate
- Agriland
Co Kilkenny Tillage Farmer Enjoys Strong Start to the 2025 Cereal Harvest
Co. Kilkenny tillage farmer, Edward Delahunty, has enjoyed an encouraging start to the 2025 cereal harvest. This week he has cut a crop of Integral winter barley, which is yielding just over 4.2t/ac at 15% dry matter. Delahunty grows a mix of winter barley, spring barley, and gluten free oats. Fodder beet and forage maize are also key to the cropping rotation followed on the farm. Integral is a six-row variety with Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV)-tolerance. 'The barley was sown out on October 6 into a perfect seed bed and it has been a good news story from that point through to final harvest. 'The crop got the rain when it was needed, with the sunshine and heat available at the right times as well. 'We have had the driest spring on record, which meant that disease levels were very low throughout the growing season. 'We yield-map the ground as the harvest progresses and all the trailers are weighed. So we know the yields we are getting almost in real time," Delahunty told Agriland. He is also pleased with the high yields of high quality straw currently. 'We will make a mix of round and square bales depending on the location of the straw. 'I had applied for the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM). But given the tremendous condition of crops at the present time, I will probably bale everything this year – even the oat straw. 'There is a tremendous demand for straw at the present time, for both bedding and feeding purposes," Delahunty said. The Co. Kilkenny farmer added that the fact that disease levels in crops have been so low this year has been adding to its quality. "Straw values now make a real contribution to the margins generated by all cereal enterprises," he said. One key factor that has made life a little easier this year is the weather. 'This year, all field work was carried out at the correct time and without any stress placed on farmers looking to get on with the work. 'And it's an absolute pleasure to be out in the fields right now cutting crops that are in almost perfect condition. 'Too often in the past, growers have found themselves fighting a combination of bad weather and poor ground conditions. It's so rewarding when, every now and then, everything goes to plan," Delahunty added. He has walked all his cereal crops over recent days and was surprised at how quickly they are coming through to harvest. 'There's a week's good weather in the offing. And based on what I am looking at in the fields right now, I would be confident enough that we will be cutting spring barley well before the end of August. 'I am aware that some spring crops got caught by the drought during May. Here in Kilkenny we got rain when it was required. As a result, spring barley crops look promising enough. But we won't know the true story until we get through to the actual harvest," he said. Maximising the returns that can be generated from his crops is also a priority for Delahunty - which is one reason why he also focuses on gluten-free oats. "All the spring barley is grown to a malting standard. If it doesn't meet this requirement then it can always be sold for feed. 'The additional price bonuses available for these value-added crops make a real difference when it comes to either making a profit or a loss from a cereal enterprise. 'And given the current state of world grain markets, Irish tillage farmers need all the incentives they can avail of," he said. According to Delahunty, traditionally cereal growers have been prices takers, however, the opportunity to produce value-added crops - such as gluten-free oats and malting barley - delivers an opportunity for tillage farmers to gain a much needed foothold in more premium markets. He is always keen to boost crop yields, and one way he dos this is with the use of slurries and animal manures. 'I have used pig slurry at a number of locations across the farm. And the positive difference it is making to final crop yields is immense admittedly, there are a number of factors coming into play here - the distance that slurry has to be transported in the first instance being one of them. 'However, given good ground conditions, the use of an umbilical system means that large volumes of slurry can be spread within a very short space of time. 'Putting more slurry out on to tillage ground makes sense from every perspective. In the first instance, animal manures are extremely valuable fertiliser sources. 'And spreading them on tillage ground is helping livestock farmers to fully comply with the various nitrates and water quality regulations. It all adds up to a win-win story for farming as a whole," Delahunty added. But at the same time, he is always very aware of the environmental challenges facing all farmers at the present time and believes it is vitally important that the role of tillage in helping to deliver a lower carbon footprint for agriculture as a whole is now fully recognised. Although the initial results from the 2025 harvest have been positive for Delahunty, he has sounded a warning about the outlook for tillage farmers this year. Over the last three successive seasons, the price that tillage farmers have received for their grains has remained static. However, their input costs have continued to rise. 'Tillage farmer are also conscious that farm gate prices across all the other sectors of farming have never been higher. 'The figures are not adding up. Tillage has been under immense economic pressure for the last three years. 'Growers are not in a position where they can invest in the businesses they have right now, never mind expand the scale of their operations," he said. Delahunty believes is calling on the government to commit to supporting tillage on a consistent and constructive basis. 'Budget 2026 gives government an opportunity to kick start this process," he said.
Agriland
31-07-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Straw availability in 2025: A tale of two islands
Straw availability on the island of Ireland is very strong at the present time, Co. Derry merchant, Robert Miller has confirmed. However, the merchant said: 'It's the polar opposite scenario in Britain. 'The main cereal growing areas of England have not seen rain in five months." The merchant highlighted the high quality of straw coming up from the Republic. 'We are already bringing up large quantities of barley straw from the main grain growing areas in Leinster and Munster. 'There's plenty of it and the quality is excellent.' It is estimated that Ireland produces about one million tonnes of cereal straw annually. Initial projections from Teagasc indicate that winter barley crops harvested over recent days are averaging between 14 and 15 4X4 round bales/ac of straw. This is in line with the high cereal yields achieved up to this point. Winter wheat yields are also projected to be well up year-on-year. This holds out the promise of yet more high quality straw becoming available later in the season. Oat straw is notoriously difficult to manage. This is due to the wide variability in maturity levels of plants within a crop. But with all cereal crops reaching maturity at an accelerated rate, there is growing confidence that all cereal straw produced in Ireland this year will be fit for combining. This, in turn, puts a question mark over what proportion of the 2025 crop will be finally earmarked for the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM). Some weeks ago, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Fisheries Martin Heydon secured a €5 million top-up to the funding available for the programme. One upside to the poor availability of straw in Britain is the reduced threat of importing herbicide-resistant weed seeds, including blackgrass, into Ireland. Meanwhile, merchants such as Robert Miller point to a very strong demand for straw in Northern Ireland over the coming months - both for animal feed and bedding purposes. And this trend looks set to continue. Straw and hay merchant Robert Miller Increasingly, dairy farmers include straw in the total mixed ration (TMR) they feed to both their lactating and dry cows. Significantly, Miller believes that selling straw and hay on a per bale basis does not convey to farmer-customers the full details of what they are buying. He said: 'Straw and hay must be sold on a weight basis. 'Only then will farmers know exactly what they are really getting for their money. 'I buy straw exclusively on a weight basis. Each 8x4x3 bale is guaranteed to weigh 500kg, 'I can then sell the hay and straw to customers on the same basis.'
Agriland
31-07-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Withdrawing fields from SIM? Get the paperwork sorted out in time
A significant number of tillage farmers may wish to withdraw some fields from the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM). This reflects the continuing good weather and excellent baling conditions. Michael Hennessy, head of Teagasc's Crops Knowledge Transfer Department, commented: 'Harvest 2025 is progressing well. "One particularly notable feature has been both the quantity and quality of straw produced by many crops. 'In light of this, some farmers may wish to withdraw some fields from the Straw Incorporation Measure .' 'Two points are relevant in this regard. First off, the Department of Agriculture should be notified of an intention to bale straw, rather than chop it, at point of combining. According to Hennessey, waiting until after the straw is baled to notify the department "could prove problematic". 'Farmers should also ensure they have a market for the straw they are baling and that the prices on offer at least match the funding available through the Straw Incorporation Scheme,' he added This week has seen the first of this year's spring barley crops harvested. And the feedback from farmers up to this point has been very encouraging. Spring barley yields are in the range 3.0-3.5t/ac, with grain quality also good. And it really is a case of action on all fronts with oilseed rape and winter wheat crops ready now ready for the combine in many parts of the country. Early indications are that rape crops are yielding particularly well. it is worth noting, however, that the spring crops coming through now were planted in March. The yields of later sown spring barleys may not be as promising, a direct result of the drought conditions that impacted across Ireland throughout the month of May. Meanwhile, most forage maize and beet crops continue to look well. Recent rains have boosted growth rates significantly. The prospect of a September harvest date for maize grown under plastic is shaping up to be a genuine possibility in many parts of the country. Demand for maize continues to grow on dairy and beef farms. The forage is widely recognised as a high quality feed source for stock of all ages. Met Éireann is forecasting a good deal of dry weather for the week ahead. There will be some rain or showers at times with temperatures reaching the high-teens to low-twenties . In terms of upcoming tillage events, Teagasc will be hosting its Tillage Forum in the Killashee Hotel, Naas on Wednesday, September 10.
Agriland
08-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Baling Assistance Payment won't be reinstated for 2025
Agriland understands that the Baling Assistance Payment (BAP), which was put in place last year to support tillage farmers in baling straw, will not be reinstated for 2025. In February, payments totaling €1.9 million began issuing to farmers under payment in respect of 2024. However, it is understood that the scheme was established as a one-off and will not be returning for 2025. However, it is also understood that the closely linked Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) will be making a comeback in 2025. The BAP was introduced in 2024 as an additional scheme to bolster fodder supplies, which ran in tandem with the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM). The payment gave farmers the choice to either receive funding by chopping straw under SIM or by baling it under BAP. The BAP came about after the former Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, had to roll back on his proposal at the time to pause the SIM, which was popular with tillage farmers. McConalogue had planned to pause SIM in an effort to save more straw for fodder over the housing period for cattle, rather than being incorporated into soil, amid poor grass growth last summer. Ultimately, McConalogue decided to reinstate the SIM while also introducing the BAP to help boost fodder supplies by providing a targeted support to farmers who chose to bale straw on a land parcel eligible for SIM, instead of chopping and incorporating it. According to the payment announcement for Baling Assistance in February, tillage farmers in Co. Wexford were in line to receive the largest number of payments, valued at over €434,000. Meanwhile, farmers in Co. Cork were set to get over €272,000, while farmers in Co. Carlow were in line to receive €235,000. At the time, the current Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, said that payment runs would continue per week as claims for payment were cleared by his department. The minister called on farmers to provide the required supporting documentation in order to get their payments cleared. This process is continuing. Last week (week ending Sunday, May 4), €125,000 issued to farmers who participated in the measure.
