Irish grain prices have risen by €27/t in just four weeks, as US farmers report serious delays in maize planting.
As much as 39m acres of US maize are yet to be planted, as reported on page 65. Green harvest prices here have climbed from €125/t to €152/t for barley, with wheat at €162/t, before bonuses.
New Department of Agriculture figures show that cereal area has increased for the first time since 2012.
More than 258,000ha of cereals were sown for 2019, an increase of 1.4% on 2018. Provisional BPS data from the Department of Agriculture confirms a 31,000ha drop in spring barley area to 93,000ha and a 24,000ha increase in winter barley to 80,000ha.
This will mean more straw on the market earlier in the year.
Winter wheat also increased from 4,500ha to 57,00ha. Winter oats jumped by 64% to 16,200ha. Maize area for 2019 is down by 9% to 15,700ha.
Wet weather drives US markets again