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Scramble for straw due to ‘empty farm sheds'

August 5th, 2018 8:22 AM

By Southern Star Team

After five years of low grain prices, the IFA leader urged tillage farmers to demand a viable return for their product. (Photo: Shutterstock)

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IFA GRAIN chairman Mark Browne has said that initial reports from Harvest 2018 would suggest that yields are very variable across crops of winter barley.

IFA GRAIN chairman Mark Browne has said that initial reports from Harvest 2018 would suggest that yields are very variable across crops of winter barley.

These factors have resulted in a hardening of spot and future prices in the wheat and barley markets while there has been a serious scramble for straw due to the empty sheds across the country.

‘There is significant variation between regions. The drought conditions and warm temperatures have certainly had an impact, with the harvest underway two weeks earlier than normal. Winter barley crops are virtually finished down south, with some still remaining to be cut up the country,’ he said.

Mark Browne said the situation is similar across Europe with variability being the key word. There have been severe drought conditions across north western Europe and Poland, while severe thunder and hail storms have caused serious crop loss in south west France.

After five years of low grain prices, the IFA leader urged tillage farmers to demand a viable return for their product and warned merchants against any attempts to undermine the market. He also advised growers to consider all options available such as whole crop in order to maximise returns from their business.

Mark Browne cautioned that while winter crops look reasonable, the situation with spring crops is totally different and he highlighted the potential crisis in waiting. ‘At best, yields are predicted to be only average.’

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