Mervyn Auchmuty

Lecarrow, Co Roscommon

All the planting is done for over a fortnight – we strip-til, so we sow a little earlier. We have 30 acres less of winter crop this year, and no wheat. It’s just how the fields worked out. What else do you do? You have to keep going, really. As regards the spring, we have made no hard and fast decisions yet.

We sold the straw from the fields for €16 per 4x4 bales of barley straw. That price is for regular customers – it’s a good price this year, but we are glad of their custom in another year. Prices are as high as €25/bale in the Galway region.

David O’Brien

Ardfield, Co Cork

Most farmers are maintaining their cereal acreage, despite the horrific 2016. There isn’t much choice – farmers are tied in by lease agreements, there is a huge penalty for either stacking or selling entitlements. Machinery is owned and must be paid for anyway. There are some farmers right on the coast who have not sowed in the autumn because of what happened last year, where resowing was required on a lot of land. These same farmers suffered the worst of the harvest conditions this autumn. The co-ops must be praised for how they have stood up and delivered a decent price in the circumstances, but there is no future in what we are doing at current prices, and little reason to expect a price hike.

Liam Robb

Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal

Winter planting is complete around here. I’m currently harvesting potatoes in excellent condition, which comes as something of a relief after the bad weather earlier. It has taken its toll, with water still in wheeltacks in some grain fields harvested back in August and September. For this and other reasons, we are back about 40ha in our winter plantings. In general, people are sticking with the same acreage. That said, if next year is no better, there will be consequences – this is the last throw of the dice for many. Prices are set globally, but input prices must fall to achieve some form of margin.