A challenging year for protein crops
Primary Sowing Maturity Late Is The Due Crop Issue Delayed To Bean
Harvesting spring beans this year is proving to be very challenging. While it is hard to determine an exact figure, estimates suggest that only 10% of the crop remains unharvested in some areas while up to half of this year’s crop remains unharvested in other areas.
The primary issue is late crop maturity due to delayed sowing. Many crops have not yet reached full maturity, with green stems and pods still visible in some fields. Even where crops are mature, it is difficult to get moisture down low enough to harvest.
Despite the late season, yields have remained strong this year. Cooler-than-usual weather in June supported crop development, and there was sufficient soil moisture during the crucial flowering period to sustain good pod numbers.
A large proportion of the harvested crops have yielded between 5.0 and 6.5t/ha. However, high moisture could be a factor in some of the higher-yielding crops.
Farmers will take every opportunity to harvest at this stage, as there is a danger that one year's delayed harvest may prevent an autumn crop from being sown. Consult your grain merchant before you harvest if moisture is high.
The area of spring beans hit a record area in 2024 at 17,604ha planted this spring. Guaranteed income from the increased protein payment was a major incentive in a late spring when farmers were running out of cropping options.
The budget for the Protein Aid Scheme 2024 is €7m, but the final rate/ha will not be set until the area of the eligible crops (beans, peas, lupins, soya and the protein/cereal mix crop (50% rate)) is fully determined.
Payment normally happens in December.
The crop areas for 2024 are as follows:
- Spring beans: 17,604ha;
- Winter beans: 541ha;
- Peas: 931ha;
- Lupins: 22ha;
- Soyabean 100% protein - 25ha;
- Protein/cereal mix crop 2,721ha (50% rate).
