Irish cereal production increased by over 400,000t to 2.3m tonnes in 2021. This represents a 21% increase compared to 2020.

Teagasc figures show that the average yields of all cereal crops increased when compared to 2020, ranging from 0.57t/ha to 2.14t/ha, depending on the crop.

The biggest average yield increases was recorded in winter wheat at 2.14t/ha.

This, combined with a 58% increase in planted area when compared to 2020, resulted in a near doubling of winter wheat output.

Winter barley yields increased by an average of 1.14t/ha. This, combined with a 31% increase in planted area, resulted in a 50% increase in winter barley output.

Winter oat output increased by 90% due to an average crop yield increase of 1.12t/ac and increase in planted area of 5,600ha.

Spring crops

While spring cereal area declined across the board, the total planted cereal area in 2021 increased by 3% compared to 2020.

Winter oilseed rape output increased by an estimated 6,000t, mainly due to an increase in planted area of 1,400ha.

WEBINAR

You can watch back the Irish Farmers Journal’s Harvest 2021 webinar, which also analysed the prospective harvest for 2022’s planted area, by clicking on www.ifj.ie/tramlines.