April-sown barley and oat crops looking well in Co. Mayo
April-sown barley and oat crops on the Co. Mayo farm of Fintan Murray continue to hold significant yield potential.
And this is despite the drought conditions across the country for most of May.
Murray said: “The crops were boosted by very heavy and localised showers of rain on a Sunday morning towards the end of the month.
“Had it not been for the rain at that time, we might well be looking at a different scenario right now.”
Murray said that the fungicide programme for the barley and oat crops seems to have worked well.
“I sprayed the barley for the last time earlier in the week. And it continues to progress well.
“It’s the same story with the oats.
“We have had a fair bit of rain since the beginning of June. However, ground conditions are holding up well.”
Murray grows spring cereals only, with Geraldine was barley variety of choice this year.
Weather permitting, he hopes to be cutting his crops at the end of August.
All the barley grown by Murray is destined for for feed. Another plus is the fact that disease levels within his spring crops have remained low
He said: “We have invested in a new Lemken drill. And this has made a very positive impact on crop establishment rates.
“Getting crops off to the best possible start is extremely important.”
Murray farms near the village of Balla. He combines his farming activities with an agricultural contracting enterprise.
“We put in a lot of clamp silage earlier in the season. But the focus is now on making bales,” he explained.
“So far the weather has held up well in 2025. Farmers got on with field work at the appropriate times. Let’s hope it stays that way.”
Meanwhile, Met Éireann is forecasting a return to more changeable weather conditions over the coming days.
The new week brings the prospect of a bright start with isolated showers, followed by outbreaks of rain later on.
Highest temperatures of 13℃ to 18℃ can be expected. However, it will feel cooler in the north. Moderate to fresh westerly winds will become strong at times along northern coasts.Tuesday will see the prospect of cloudy conditions with rain and drizzle to expected. A few brighter spells will break through in the north and west at times.
Highest temperatures will be in the range 15℃ to 19℃ in mainly moderate to fresh west to south-west winds.
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