Although the cost of fuel and fertiliser is “horrendous” the harvest in Donegal has been good, according to farmers.
In Burt Ivan Peoples said the yields this year are similar to last year but he is concerned at the rising prices of fuel and fertiliser.
“It was a great harvest weather-wise with winter barley, oil seed rape and winter wheat as well as spring barley. I will be planting winter barley next week. There can be problems if it is sown too early.
“Costs are horrendous. The cost of fuel and fertiliser are spiralling out of control. You cannot grow a crop without fertiliser. I don’t know where it is going to finish up. On the positive side the weather this year has been a big plus,” Mr Peoples said.
Shaunie Boyle in Falcarragh, who has sheep and cattle, has seen a good crop of silage harvested in his area this year possibly in response to the Fodder Scheme.
The damper weather in the west of the county saw good growth but he was only now getting his turf home which would normally have been brought home in June
“All anyone around here does is silage with no real crop harvesting – not corn or potatoes. It is good to see so much fodder gathered up. We had dampness so we had growth and the silage crop was good enough. I know the Fodder Scheme put a bit of fear into people to save more.
From talking to contractors around the area I know there is a fair bit of fodder made,” Shaunie said.
He said there is a lot of talk now about reducing numbers of sheep and cattle in the country but between now and Christmas may be a “fair gauge of that”.
“If a lot of fat ewes appear at marts we know there will be cutting back. On the other side of it the department are talking about introducing a reduction in numbers and paying farmers maybe over three to five years,” he added.
Killea-based farmer and contractor Peter Lynch told the Donegal News that yields were bad because of the poor weather early in the year.
“In general I think yields are down. The price has come back too which could leave some people in a spot of trouble.
“We can expect inputs to rise even more next year. It was a good enough harvest for cutting with the good weather in August.
“I would say 90 per cent of the harvest is now in. This week, with the good forecast, should see the finish of it and then we will be back out ploughing again for the next crop,” Peter said.
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