Tom Barry: ‘Respectable’ harvest won’t make up for lowest grain prices in 40 years
Tom Barry: 'Harvest 2025 has the potential to be high yielding. However, the price of grain is very disappointing, mirroring prices seen 40 years ago.' File picture: Dan Linehan
Harvest 2025 arrived this year in early July. First up was KWS Tardis winter barley. This was in two fields which received dairy slurries at growth stage 25 (mid tillering). Uptake of the organic nutrients was slow as the weather was dry.
Yields were between 9-9.6t/ha, which is respectable but nowhere near the yields I was achieving with KWS Cassia 10 years ago. Winter barleys need to be passing 10t/ha to keep them competitive.
