Unharvested oats being grazed with sheep

As those grain growers worst affected by last year's bad harvest weather await compensation, those with big harvest losses are now having to clean up the mess.

Andy Doyle

8 March 2017

Unharvested oats being grazed with sheep

Francis Dillon examines what’s left of his oat crop. He was unable to harvest it due to persistent rain since last September and is now grazing it with sheep. Inset: Oat grains have been stuck in the ground for the past six months. \ David Ruffles

Francis Dillon walks through one of the fields of oats which he was unable to harvest due to persistent rain. \ David Ruffles

Some of Francis Dillon's oat crop, which was not harvested last harvest, is being grazed by sheep in an attempt to salvage some value and to help manage the straw. \ David Ruffles

The presence of the sheep has helped to break up the straw and get further seeds to germinate. \ David Ruffles

The mess currently in the field with oat grains stuck in the ground for the past six months. \ David Ruffles

As more than 250 farmers wait with bated breath for news of a tillage crisis fund, one Galway farmer is still trying to deal with the mess of harvest 2016. Francis Dillon is one of 253 farmers – as identified by the IFA – who suffered badly in last year’s wet harvest. He is based around Tynagh in south Galway and this was one of the badly affected areas, as well as neighbouring north Tipperary and the other more publicised problems in the south, west and north of the country.Dillon grows about 280ac of crops – oats, barley and swedes – and he also has around 300 ewes. The crops are mainly on rented and swapped ground.

Dillon grows about 280ac of crops – oats, barley and swedes – and he also has around 300 ewes. The crops are mainly on rented and swapped ground.

His early crops yielded 3t/ac but he finished up with an average of 1.5t/ac across the acres cut. As a result, he had to pay money to clear his merchant account.

Dillon ended up with almost 50ac of oats unharvested. He brought in the combine when the weather picked up, cut a patch in one field but the little he got in the tank was unsaleable so he had no choice but to leave it.

The Galwayman is now running his sheep across this land in order to make some use of the germinating seeds and to help break down the straw.

He wants the option to be able to insure his crops against such weather events in future but it is not available. He wonders if a fund can be established, with the help of grower contributions, to help with similar problems in future.

An IFA survey of growers put the overall loss at €4.1m. Farmers lost €3.032m on grain and €1.073m on straw.

Many other farmers suffered similar crop losses last harvest. While prices were low, it is the loss of the tonnes that has given rise to the greatest challenges. And now it is almost planting time again and these farmers need access to funds.

Minister’s response

Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed last week gave his clearest signal yet that an aid package was in the pipeline, telling the Irish Farmers Journal that he was willing to establish a fund.

“What I have committed to is engagement with the IFA on this matter and that is what we are doing. And what I’ve said clearly is that if there’s a way, there’s a will,” he said.

Torrential rain halts play in the south and west

Weather snapshot: flooding, waterlogged soils and housed stock