Focus Farms
The Focus Farms are farmers who have agreed to work with the project to demonstrate and validate first-hand different establishment techniques and integrated weed management (IWM). This network of ten tillage ‘focus farms’ were selected on the basis of:
- Encompassing plough-based tillage and a variety of non-plough based establishment systems with at least one of the key grass weed problems,
- Soil and climatic differences, as these FFs are spread across Co. Louth to Co. Cork,
- A good communicator who can relay their experiences and also willing to implement additional IWM on larger fields (minimum of 12 hectares) and
- The farmer has a good knowledge of soil health and awareness of herbicides and cultural weed control
Gareth Culligan
Location Co. Louth
Establishment system Direct drill
Primary grass weed Sterile brome & wild oats
Gerry, Peter & Gavin Curran
Location Co. Meath
Establishment system Plough
Primary grass weed Sterile brome
Secondary grass weed Wild oats
Adam Goodwin
Location Co. Kildare
Establishment system Plough
Primary grass weed Great brome & wild oats
Secondary grass weed Sterile brome & canary grass
Shay & Michael Grace
Location Co. Kildare
Establishment system Strip till
Primary grass weed Sterile brome & soft brome
Secondary grass weed Wild oats
Brian & Eoin Lyons
Location Co. Kilkenny
Establishment system Direct drill
Primary grass weed Sterile brome
Secondary grass weed Wild Oats
Simon Neville
Location Co. Wexford
Establishment system Min till
Primary grass weed Canary grass & sterile brome
Secondary grass weed Wild Oats
Mark & Garrett Browne
Location Co. Wexford
Establishment system Min till/strip till
Primary grass weed Wild Oats
Secondary grass weed Sterile brome
Donnie McGrath
Location Co. Tipperary
Establishment system Min till
Primary grass weed Black-grass, sterile brome, great brome & wild oats
Bill Shanahan
Location Co. Waterford
Establishment system Min till
Primary grass weed Black-grass
Secondary grass weed Wild oats
Billy & Rob Coleman
Location Co. Cork
Establishment system Min till/direct drill/broadcasting
Primary grass weed Sterile brome & meadow brome
Secondary grass weed Wild oats & Italian ryegrass