Harvest 2025: Winter wheat crops coming in north of 5t/ac
A significant number of winter wheat crops have exceeded the 5t/ac threshold, according to Teagasc tillage specialist, Shay Phelan.
The tillage specialist said: “This is especially the case in places in Dublin and Meath, where crops were grown on slightly heavier soils.
“The overall winter wheat average will probably come in at just over 4t. Some crops grown on lighter soil were impacted by Take-all.
“Yields here would have been slightly disappointing.”
The Teagasc representative went on to confirm that the 2025 cereal harvest is now fully wrapped up on many farms.
“This is the especially the case in the midlands, where lighter soils tend to predominate. Meanwhile, the harvest continues apace in Donegal, where the spring barley harvest is now well underway," Phelan said.
“In the south-east, there might still be some later sown crops of spring barley and spring wheat to be combined."
Where spring barley yields are concerned, early sown crops have averaged 3½t/ac.
Phelan said: “Later sown crops found the drought conditions of May and June difficult to cope with. Here yields are between 2½ to 3t/ac.
“The quality of early sown spring barleys is holding up well.”
Looking slightly further ahead, the Teagass representative indicated that many spring bean crops, due to be harvested in September, have significant yield potential.
He added: “Again, this is especially the case for crops grown in heavier soils, which were not impacted by the very dry weather conditions of May and June.
“Cereal yields have held up well in 2025. But it’s the very disappointing grain prices that will act to put real pressure on the overall margins generated on tillage farms.”
Meanwhile, winter oilseed rape has been the undoubted success story of Harvest 2025.
According to Phelan, many crops will deliver margins as good as or even better than those generated by first wheats.
He said: “The coming days should see the 2025/26 rape planting season get underway."
The tillage specialist said, when it comes to selecting varieties, yield is not the only issue that growers should consider.
“Of equal significance are the issues of resistance to light leaf spot, Phoma, pod shatter and lodging.
“But the good news is that growers have 15 to 16 rape varieties form which to choose.
“Winter oilseed rape continues to be a very positive story for the Irish tillage sector. It is a crop that we can grow well,” he added.
