Crops
Update on planting progress this wet autumn
Planting progress of winter cereals has been slow in most places and at a virtual stop in others and on the latest Tillage Edge podcast, Ciaran Collins and Shay Phelan, both tillage specialists in Teagasc, chat through the current progress and what actions farmers can take as the year closes in.
26 October 2023
Bringing precision to the spreading of organic manures
Although farmers try to be accurate with chemical fertiliser spreading, through the use of tray testing and fertiliser spreader calibration, bringing precision into spreading organic manures is very important.
26 October 2023
New collaboration to enhance the growing malting, brewing and distilling sector in Ireland
Ireland’s South East is Ireland’s principal area for the production of grain for the drinks sector. It is also home to a national cluster of breweries, distilleries and malt houses, as well to the country's only ab initio honours degree programme in brewing and distilling.
25 October 2023
Teagasc's ‘Plant-Based Protein: Yes, You Can!’ video series during Bioeconomy Ireland Week
As part of Bioeconomy Ireland Week, Teagasc has taken the lead in producing a series of enlightening videos aimed at dispelling myths surrounding the development of plant-based proteins.
21 October 2023
Using yield maps to make better decisions in the future
Farming just outside Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Don Somers, a Teagasc Signpost tillage farmer, is using all the precision tools available to him to boost profitability.
20 October 2023
Why you should monitor crops for slug damage this autumn
Slug damage is evident in many crops this autumn. Wet weather is the primary factor and crops after oilseed rape and fields with a history of slug damage have fared worse. Ciaran Collins tells us more.
19 October 2023
USA harvest update: Brian Caldbeck from Laois talks about his experiences in Kentucky
Brian Caldbeck, a Laois man living in Kentucky, talks to Michael Hennessy on this week’s Tillage Edge about his experiences in the US over the past 20 years.
19 October 2023
A Taste of Things to Come!
Teagasc has established a new apple research orchard at its crops research centre in Oak Park, Carlow. This new research programme represents a fundamental step in developing the apple sector in Ireland.
13 October 2023
An update on winter barley and winter wheat plantings
Shay Phelan, Teagasc Crops Specialist, provides an update on winter barley and winter wheat plantings and provides some key agronomic advice on the management of these crops and winter oilseed rape.
12 October 2023
How this Wexford farmer is getting the best from precision machinery
The third of a three part series from a recent Signpost farm walk on Don Somers’ farm in Wexford, Michael Hennessy chats to Don Somers & Dermot Forristal, a machinery researcher in Teagasc, about how he utilises the information from the combine yield monitor to inform agronomic decisions each year.
12 October 2023
Attention turns to autumn planting
With the 2023 harvest now confined to memory except for a few late crops, attention has turned to planting winter crops, writes Shay Phelan,
Crops and Potato Specialist.
12 October 2023
Nutrient management planning has never been as important on tillage farms
At the moment, there is a lot of talk in the media and within farming circles about the reductions of nitrogen as part of the nitrates delegation for intensive livestock farmers. Michael Hennessy tells us why the option of exporting slurry off these farms should explored.
05 October 2023
Grazing cover crops with store lambs
The practice of fattening store lambs on cover crops is becoming more popular and Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep Production in Teagasc, joins the Tillage Edge podcast this week to discuss how to get the most from the cover crops whilst maximising animal performance.
05 October 2023
Crops Update - Winter Cereal Growers choose your cereal variety carefully
Variety selection is a very important decision for winter cereal growers. Selection should not be based on top line yield figures alone. Having an awareness of varietal agronomic traits is vitally important. Crops Specialist Ciaran Collins has some advice
28 September 2023
Getting the best from cover crops and organic manures on Don Somers’ farm
In the second of a three part series from a Signpost farm walk on Don Somers’ farm in Wexford, Michael Hennessy chats to Martin Bourke, a Teagasc Advisor, about getting the best from organic manures and how Don Somers has utilised this resource to build soil fertility on his farm.
28 September 2023
Planning for the autumn drilling season
With the harvest of 2023 still not complete in some areas, we are now quickly approaching the start of drilling for the 2024 harvest. Now is a good time to sit down and plan out the necessary cropping plan, Shay Phelan tells us how.
22 September 2023
Soil management on Don Somers' farm
In the first of a three part series on the Tillage Edge podcast, Michael Hennessy chats to Dr David Wall, a researcher in Teagasc, about the soils on Don Somers’ farm.
21 September 2023
Selecting the appropriate actions to reduce gaseous emissions on tillage farms
Irish agriculture has been tasked with reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030. To achieve this, farmers across the country – irrespective of sector – are being asked to adopt a suite of measures and embrace change.
20 September 2023
Watch: Ireland has already achieved key 2030 pesticide reduction target
Ireland is just one of three member states to have already achieved a target set out under the EU Farm to Fork Strategy to reduce pesticide usage by 50% by 2030, Andrew Owen-Griffiths from the EU DG Health and Food Safety told delegates at the recent Teagasc Crops Forum.
17 September 2023
Teagasc Crops Forum Mapping the Future for Tillage Farming in Ireland
The Teagasc Crops Forum discussed the latest agronomy issues facing farmers and also how to shape the future of the tillage industry. It took place as a hybrid event, in the Killashee Hotel, Naas, County Kildare and also as a live webinar.
14 September 2023
Sharing means saving
Reliable farm machinery is indispensable - finding the right ownership mix is key to keeping it affordable. Shay Phelan, Teagasc Tillage Specialist, tells us more.
14 September 2023
Matt Dempsey on mapping the future for the tillage industry
Matt Dempsey, former editor of the Irish Farmers Journal, and Chair of the DAFM Food Vision Tillage group, chats to Michael Hennessy on the latest Tillage Edge podcast about the interim recommendations from the Food Vision Tillage Group.
14 September 2023
The power of plant protein
Teagasc researchers are leading a project to create and demonstrate improved supply chain opportunities for the European plant protein industry.
14 September 2023
'Save the Dates’ – Upcoming Teagasc Events
Teagasc has a wide variety of events & conferences taking place this autumn. These range from our presence at the National Ploughing Championships to the Poultry Broiler Conference, College Open Days & the popular Transferring the Family Farm Clinics.
12 September 2023
Don’t get itchy feet with planting winter cereals
It is always tempting to avail of good weather in September to plant winter cereals, but early planting carries risks.
10 September 2023
Supporting farmers to deliver sustainable food systems
The appetite at farm level is strong to deliver a sustainable future food system and farmers are taking ownership and looking for solutions, according to Dr. Stan Lalor, Director of Knowledge Transfer with Teagasc.
08 September 2023
Tillage update: Weather gives reprieve to clear fields and focus on hedgerow management
Great progress has been made with harvesting this week, reports Ciaran Collins, Teagasc Crops Specialist, and – apart for some beans - the vast majority of crops will harvested by the weekend.
07 September 2023
Managing hedgerows on tillage farms
Dr. Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist, joins Michael Hennessy on the latest Tillage Edge podcast to talk about the management of hedgerows on tillage farms.
07 September 2023
A preview of the Teagasc Crops Forum
Shay Phelan and John Mahon from Teagasc are on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast to chat through what to expect from the Teagasc Crops Forum, next Friday, September 8, in Naas.
31 August 2023
Further modifications to catch crop grazing rules
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has announced a modification to the rules relating to GAEC Standard 6 – the rule related to lie-back areas for catch crops.
31 August 2023