Winter Wheat

The 10 year average area of winter wheat is 53,000 hectares, ranging from 35,000 ha in 2020 to 60,000 ha in 2016 & 2017. This variation is influenced by autumn planting conditions and grain prices.

Yields depend on the growing season, with a target yield of 11.0 t/ha being achievable. The 10-year average yield is 9.9 t/ha. In years with lower yields, poor crop establishment and septoria are the primary contributing factors.

To achieve exceptional yields, wheat crops need optimum growing conditions throughout the season to enable strong vegetative growth, ear growth and development and grain filling. Teagasc research indicates that grain number/m² and grain size, had an equal influence on yield. Ear number has the biggest influence on grain number but the crop can compensate to some extent for low ear numbers by increasing grain number per ear and increasing grain size.

Teagasc Winter Wheat Guide is available here 

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