I wouldn't actually have taught we had that many looking in. This a great section as there is a great spread of growers geographically growing all types of crops and we all do different things from cultivation to inputs to cropping choice which is great. It would be even better if some of the lookers in posted a bit to stir conversation as to the good and the bad crops as we all have the highs and lows and teasing the problems out on here with others benefits us all going forward.
The tillage scene is in a bad way at the minute no doubt and major uncertainty surrounds all our plans going forward and it's good to talk and share the frustration.
I've been waiting to see when somebody would mention how bad things are in tillage, reading some of the posts on here recently I've been more reluctant than normal to post.
I like this forum and this section particularly. I might not have much to offer on agronomy.
I rarely get involved in matters related to spraying as I don't spray my brother looks after that end of things, I would have noting to offer and as such I don't get involved.
If an outsider was reading this, they would assume that all is well in the tillage sector,
Some great yields reported on here recently,
No such yields up this end of the country,
We still have not worked out all of our yields, I could put a positive spin on it and say we had a field which did 4t of WB (3.8/9 would be more accurate) that would be true, however it would be 12ac out a block of 104.
In reality our average yield on WB will be 3.4t (from what merchants tell me our average is slightly above the local average)
Oats will be similar at 3.4 or slightly higher.
Wheat I can't say yet, we haven't much done, first field which was poor did 3.3t.
Locally yields are 3.1 to 3.8 (dried) the high yield being a first wheat after beans.
The weather up here has been a battle since the first weekend in June.
I ploughed a field for grass seeds in May, the brother suggested we sow barley and whole crop it, we didn't, it was sowed last Friday the same day we cut out other SB as wholecrop.
I've another block ploughed longer, tough heavy Meath land, got it ready for sowing last Tuesday but didn't get it sowed.
Currently raining here.
We got stopped cutting oats last Thursday week (11aug) had 2 or 3 ac to finish got that cut on Saturday.
Cut wheat on Monday and Tuesday until the rain came. Heavy rain here now, Rain again tomorrow. At best we might get to cut on Tuesday (23 August)
That's two days cutting out of 12.
It's a pain in the hole, I haven't even got to the point of my post.
Grain price is on the floor, we are not making any money, no one on here seems to be complaining?
All the posts about yields and methods of establishment, not a mention of the only thing that matters profit.
I farm to make a living, whatever we do it fcuking has to pay or we can't continue.
Current yields and prices, bad weather there will be no money made this year.
How do the rest of ye do it?
Honest answers please.