That time of year has finally come and gone as the seed for our 2022 barley crop has made its way into the ground.

Our farmers were kept in ‘ready position’ longer than usual this year as high levels of rainfall and low temperatures over winter meant that sowing couldn’t take place until well into March.

But then the weather gods smiled and a sudden two week burst of sunshine dried the soil and offered a window to get the seed sown. To quote Robert Milne at Ballymorgan “on St Patrick’s Day local shops were doing a good trade in ice cream cones”.

Sowing commenced around the last week of the month is excellent conditions, albeit with a shorter drilling window to cultivate, drill, roll and complete all sowings.

After a hot fortnight, the temperature dropped again at the end of March and the start of April, so the shoots are emerging slowly by comparison with 2021, but the early murmurings among our farmers are that everything looks in place for a good vintage. Early doors yet of course, but with the first hurdle vaulted we’ll keep you up to date as the season progresses.