Depressed Grain Yields Leading to Serious Cereal Losses – IFA

IFA Grain Chair John Murphy has said that depressed grain yields throughout the country is compounding an already difficult year for tillage farmers with heavy financial losses now likely to be incurred.

John Murphy was speaking following a meeting of IFA’s National Grain Committee to discuss the outcome of the 2026 grain harvest.

“Overall cereal yields very mixed with most reporting that yields are back at least half a tonne per acre versus last year,” he outlined.

A survey of IFA Grain committee members revealed average yields of 3.45t/ac for winter barley, winter wheat at 3.85t/ac and spring barley at 2.63t/ac.

Using the above yields as a benchmark and Teagasc material and machinery reference costs adjusted for inflation, IFA analysis indicates that winter barley crops grown on rented land will lose €233/acre before direct payments, with winter wheat at €187 per acre and spring feed barley incurring a loss of €277 per acre.

“The only bit of positive news aside from the good weather for harvest is oilseed rape with yields reported of between 1.8 tonne and 2.2 tonne per acre.  Margins for this crop should be positive for most in 2026 even on rented land”, the IFA Grain Chair said.

“Tillage margins were expected to take a hammering in 2026 owing to significant fertiliser and machinery cost increases, but with these yields, losses are severe in many cases and the situation in the tillage sector is beyond serious now.”

“Many growers, particularly those on rented land, will simply not be in a position to plant crops in 2027 without financial aid. Government support is absolutely essential to try and offset the impact of these losses at farm level.”

“We need a significant increase in support for tillage farmers in Budget 2027; otherwise, the very future of the sector is at risk,” John Murphy concluded.

See IFA’s 2026 Projected Cereal Margins here.