Pleased with average barley

9 August 2001



Pleased with average barley

WINTER barley on FARMERS WEEKLYs Northern Ireland barometer farm has not matched last years exceptional 8t/ha (3.25t/acre).

But Mark McFerrans 17ha (43 acres) of Pastoral at Battletown Farm near Newtownards still delivered about 7.1t/ha (2.9t/acre).

“Thats about average for us. Considering the state some of it went in and the year we have had I am fairly pleased.”

The grain came off at 20% but has since all been dried and delivered to a Belfast mill for 80/t. “Thats quite good – last year we got only 76.”

Local demand both for grain and straw remains strong. Reasonable weather has allowed all the straw to be baled, some standard small bales selling for 1.10 each.

Winter wheat, which should fetch 90/t, will not be fit to cut for another week, he notes.

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