W1 - Lecture 1 - Grain yield in cereal crops

Question 1

cereal production in Ireland (2007-2024 history)

Answer 1

• 2024 – variable yields with moderate prices
• 2023 moderate yields, mixed quality, bad harvest, moderate prices
• 2022 excellent yields, high quality, excellent weather, high N cost, HIGH grain prices
• 2021-good to excellent yields, good quality, good weather, high prices
• 2020 ~ moderate yields, variable quality, moderate prices
• 2019 high yields, good (variable) quality with moderate prices
• 2018 15-30% lower yields with higher prices, straw +
• 2017 good yields and quality with low prices
• 2016 moderate yields with low prices
• 2015 excellent (v high) yields with low-moderate prices
• 2014 excellent yields , low-moderate prices
• 2013 moderate- good yields , good prices
• 2012 wet year / high costs / reduced yields / low quality / HIGH prices
• 2011 very good yields and good prices
• 2010 below average yields and good prices
• 2008-2009 – mixed yields / low-moderate prices and increasing costs
• 2007 – BAD harvest with high prices

Question 2

what was the best year in cereal production recently

Answer 2

2022
o Best year in last 3 or 4 decades
o Yields, weather, harvest, prices good

Question 3

what are disease control challenges

Answer 3

demanding climate and evolving pathogens

Question 4

what weather do most diseases like

Answer 4

moisture and wetter weather

Question 5

what are 2 factors that farmers has no control over

and 1 factor that farmers can control

Answer 5

1. Weather has a huge influence
   - No control over it
   - Harvest weather is a huge factor.
2. Prices
   - High price/ low price
3. Yield
   - Farmers can control yield – focus a lot on this

Question 6

what does the colour of dust at harvest time tell about the timing of harvesting?

Answer 6

White dust – right time for harvesting
Black dust- gone past harvesting

Question 7

what % of EU production of does ireland produce

Answer 7

1%

Question 8

how much € do you need to get to break even

Answer 8

€180

Question 9

what word best describes the cereal market

Answer 9

volatile

Question 10

why is price higher in May

and how much does it cost

Answer 10

Price is higher in may because you have to store grain

– cost 20/30 euro a tonne to store

Question 11

what does barley, oats and wheat have high value of and what is it used for

and what does barley, oats and wheat have low value of

Answer 11

all have high value grain for feeding and processing

• low value straw

Question 12

what is the grain harvest index

Answer 12

of the total yield, the grain yield is over 50%
- this is called the grain harvest index

Question 13

what is the aim in crop husbandry

Answer 13

in crop husbandry of a cereal crop the aim is to optimise the grain yield and quality at harvest

Question 14

how is development of cereal crops changed

Answer 14

Development is seen as changes in a crop form brought about by passage through the life cycle

– vegetative and floral (ear) development

Question 15

Growth Stages - slide 15 -

Must know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 15

GS39 most important - flag leaf

Question 16

how is changes in growth of cereal crops seen?

what does this result from?

Answer 16

Growth is seen as changes in the crop size or weight

– results from photosynthesis

– needs light interception by a green crop canopy

Question 17

how can development of a cereal crop be managed?

why does development of a cereal crop need to be understood

Answer 17

Development can only be managed by
sowing date and variety choice

but needs to be understood for good crop management

Question 18

how can growth of a cereal crop be managed

what does growth dominate?

Answer 18

Growth can be managed by various husbandry practices over the growing
season

growth dominates the management of cereal crops in practice

Question 19

what sort of varieties should be sown if:
sowing early
sowing late

Answer 19

Sowing early– slow developing variety Sowing late – fast developing variety

Question 20

what is growth

Answer 20

growth is visual

Question 21

if sown on 1st of October when should you have a flag leaf

Answer 21

• If sown on oct 1st – should have a flag leaf on21st may give or take