Recent thunder showers have left many spring barley crops with significant lodging as a result. Damage was mainly sporadic within fields, but there is a lot of lodging in some areas, particularly from Tipperary up into the midlands

It is likely that this will impact on grain yield and quality and also opens the door for attack by crows. These will add to the damage and the losses.

Irish Farmers Journal Sencrop monitoring stations show over 20mm in the past seven days in locations such as Limerick, Athy and Monasterevin, with over 30mm in east Galway, Newry and Coleraine. The highest figure for the week was 48mm near Killucan and St Johnston.

Broken weather also prevented harvesting in many areas either side of last weekend, but there were some combines out. It would seem from some recent reports that winter barley yields have picked up considerably and that promising fields are delivering over 4t/ac, with an occasional report of up to a tonne higher.