Crops
Listen: The Evolution of Sprayer Technology - Part 2
On this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, the second of a two-part series with Dermot Forristal, Teagasc Researcher, Dermot discusses the latest developments in sprayer technology, including nozzle technology and where this technology can be best used on farms.
12 June 2025
Variability and BYDV evident in spring barley crops
Crops Specialist at Teagasc, Ciaran Collins assesses the performance of spring barley crops, highlighting some variability and a rise in BYDV incidence, especially in later-sown crops.
12 June 2025
Field Vegetable Crop Establishment and Band Spraying Demonstrations at Crops Open Day
A live field vegetable crop establishment and band spraying demonstration will take place in Teagasc Oak Park on Wednesday, 25 June as part of the Crops Open Day 2025.
12 June 2025
6 reasons to attend the Crops and Technology Open Day
All involved in the tillage and horticultural sectors are invited to the highly anticipated Crops and Technology Open Day.
12 June 2025
Weed Watch 2025 - Herbicide resistance testing
Vijaya Bhaskar highlights the growing importance of herbicide resistance testing.
09 June 2025
Identifying critical tillage grass weeds
Some growers have spotted blackgrass for the first time on their farms in recent weeks and have sought help to confirm its identification. Correct identification is crucial, says Vijaya Bhaskar, Research Officer.
06 June 2025
‘Undies the surface’
Unlike your typical cereal or legume crop, Signpost Tillage farmer, Darren Allen has ‘planted’ a novel ‘crop’ that he hopes will provide useful insights into the soil health on Ballymaloe Farm, Ballymaloe, Shanagarry, Co. Cork.
06 June 2025
Inter cropping challenges
A push for home-grown protein, an influx of livestock farmers having converted or converting to organic production and the availability of Protein Aid scheme has made inter crops – a combination of cereals and legumes – an attractive prospect for many organic tillage farms.
06 June 2025
Listen: US farmers are behind on plantings
The grain harvest in the United States has a significant impact on global markets, and directly influences harvest prices in Ireland. On this week’s Tillage Edge, Brian Caldbeck, an Irishman running a seed business in Kentucky, returns to the show to discuss how US farmers are faring this season.
05 June 2025
Timing critical with final fungicide applications
As most spring barley and winter wheat crops will be due their final application of fungicide over the next week or so, Teagasc Crops Specialist, Shay Phelan reminds us of the importance of timing for effectiveness and cost.
05 June 2025
Walk crops for grass weed issues
Teagasc Crops Specialist, Shay Phelan shares key tips and advice for controlling grass weeds, and encourages growers to walk all crops over the coming weeks to identify any potential issues.
05 June 2025
Spreading the risk in organic tillage systems
Farming without pesticides, fungicides or chemical fertilisers, organic tillage farmers were reminded of the importance of establishing effective crop rotations to improve the resilience of their farming systems to weather, disease and pest challenges.
04 June 2025
Benefitting from beans in Co. Meath
Signpost Tillage farmer, Vincent Macken informs us of the latest happenings from his farm in Co. Meath, providing an update on beans, spring crop establishments and spraying.
03 June 2025
Celebrating the Global Impact of the Potato
Today, Friday, 30 May is International Potato Day. In December 2023, the United Nations General Assembly officially proclaimed May 30 as International Potato Day, recognising the crop’s critical role in global food security.
30 May 2025
Key actions for tillage growers this week
As we reach the end of May, the recent spell of rainfall has been a welcome relief for crops struggling through a dry start to the season. Michael Hennessy shares three key priorities tillage farmers should target in the coming week.
30 May 2025
Organic mixed farming with John Hamilton
Donegal farmer, John Hamilton combines sucklers, sheep and tillage in a fully organic system.
29 May 2025
Listen: The Evolution of Sprayer Technology - Part 1
On this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, the first of a two-part series, Dermot Forristal, researcher with Teagasc, discusses the latest developments in sprayer technology and how these innovations can support farmers in the day-to-day management of their crops.
29 May 2025
Benefiting from the Farming for Water EIP on tillage farms
Funding of up to €9,160 per farm is available to plant catch crops in Priority Areas for Action under the Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP).
29 May 2025
National Centre for Brewing and Distilling officially opened
The National Centre for Brewing and Distilling, located at Teagasc Oak Park, has been officially opened by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon T.D.
26 May 2025
Preparing for the ‘fight on blight’
With the vast majority of the country entering a ‘very high’ blight risk period, Teagasc has organised two important potato crop walks.
26 May 2025
Listen: How Don Somers increases precision on his farm
Fresh from hosting a Signpost Programme event this week, Don Somers from Co. Wexford joins Michael Hennessy on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast.
22 May 2025
Organic tillage farming with Tommy Delahunt
Tommy Delahunt is a tillage farmer in the Growing Organics programme. He farms in east Wicklow and grows a mix of winter and spring cereals, along with oilseed rape, beans, maize and fodder beet as break crops.
22 May 2025
In pictures: Identifying biodiversity and heritage preservation improvements
A recent visit to the Moore family farm in Croghan, Co. Offaly, is a powerful reminder of how heritage and biodiversity can coexist alongside commercial farming practices on even the busiest of farms, Signpost Tillage Advisor, John Mahon tells us more.
22 May 2025
Addressing nutrient deficiencies in drought conditions
As phosphorous, potassium, magnesium and manganese deficiencies become evident in spring crops, Teagasc Soil and Plant Nutrition Specialist, Veronica Nyhan plots a course for identification of each and treatment.
15 May 2025
Listen: Dry conditions begin to bite and what this means for disease control
The dry conditions over the past 10 days - and with no rain in the forecast - means that spring crops in particular are coming under pressure.
15 May 2025
Noxious weed classification for Blackgrass
Blackgrass, a grass weed requiring a zero-tolerance approach on tillage farms, has now been classified as a noxious weed.
14 May 2025
New European Innovation Partnership project funding for Teagasc
Teagasc is one of a number of organisations to have been awarded funding for the implementation of new European Innovation Partnership (EIP) projects, focused on the theme of environmental sustainability.
13 May 2025
Field Insights: Organic Tillage Crop Walks
A nationwide series of eight Organic Crop Walks, organised by Teagasc, will commence next week. The first event takes place in Co. Cork on Monday, May 19.
13 May 2025
Time running out to apply for key schemes
Farmers need to be aware that a number of importance scheme application deadlines will take place this week.
12 May 2025
From fava beans to future foods: researchers turn to plant-based proteins for a healthier planet
Crops like chickpeas, fava beans, lentils and quinoa could help make Europe’s food systems more environmentally friendly and sustainable, a recent article in Horizon – The EU Research & Innovation Magazine delved into this topic in detail.
10 May 2025