The production of cereals across the Republic of Ireland in 2019 was in the region of 2.2 million tonnes.
According to the 2019 harvest report, which was published by Teagasc, this represents an increase of 373,000 tonnes (20%) from the drought hit harvest of 2018.
Overall cereal crop yields and quality was good despite some broken weather for harvesting in August, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority said.
Ceased Decline
Based on the most recent information from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), the decline in cereal area experienced in recent years has stopped, as the cereal area remains unchanged from 2018 at 261,000 hectares.
But the dynamic of the cereal area changed with a 27% increase in winter cereal area from 2018 to 2019, mainly due to favourable planting weather in autumn 2018.
Current estimates indicate that the winter cereal area for 2019/2020 is 50% lower than 2018/2019 due to high rainfall this autumn, which hampered sowing operations.
DAFM outlined that the most affected counties are in the North East, with some counties as low as 30% planted, while southern counties have fared better with up to 80% planted in Tipperary.
This will result in a big increase in spring barley area for harvest 2020.
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