Crops

Cover crops - a practical solution to improve water quality

Tillage farmers were reminded of the important role cover crops can play in the protection of water quality, more specifically nitrate capture, at the Teagasc National Tillage Conference, held yesterday, January 29, in Co. Kilkenny.
30 January 2025

Pea and bean intercropping - lessons learnt to date

Researchers in the Teagasc Crops Research Centre have taken a novel approach to producing pea crops by intercropping with faba beans.
29 January 2025

Benefits of non-inversion systems sometimes overestimated

Established to compare and contrast the performance of conventional tillage versus minimum tillage systems, results of a 23 year study from Knockbeg, Co. Carlow were shared with delegates at this year’s Teagasc National Tillage Conference, today, January 29.
29 January 2025

Setting the scene for the Teagasc National Tillage Conference

Taking place next Wednesday, January 29th, in the Lyrath Conference Centre, Kilkenny, the Teagasc National Tillage Conference will equip farmers with the latest knowledge and tools to aid the overall sustainability of their businesses.
24 January 2025

Spring barley varieties for 2025: Key changes and agronomic developments

Selecting the right variety is a crucial decision for every spring barley grower. While high yield is important, Teagasc Crops Specialist, Ciaran Collins explains why choosing a variety with strong resistance to disease and lodging can ultimately be more profitable for farmers.
23 January 2025

A Preview of the National Tillage Conference

For this week’s Tillage Edge, Dr. Ewen Mullins, Head of Crop Science at Teagasc, gives a preview of what to expect this years Teagasc National Tillage Conference.
23 January 2025

Maximising the Benefits of Slurry Application on Tillage Farms

Michael Hennessy tells us many farmers are eager to start applying slurry now that the spreading window has reopened. He emphasizes the need for an up-to-date nutrient management plan and highlights how well-managed slurry can improve soil health and ensures future productivity.
16 January 2025

Part Four: Farm Partnerships - Planning for Farm Succession

For the final part of our four-part series on farm succession, we chat to Ruth Fennell, a Collaborative Farm Specialist with Teagasc.
16 January 2025

Finding the optimum forward speed when spreading slurry

As more farmers move to using Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) technologies, finding the most appropriate forward speed is necessary to ensure slurry is applied at the correct rate.
15 January 2025

New advancements in BYDV testing

Researchers in the Teagasc Crops Research Centre, Oak Park, have developed a new method to facilitate more accurate detection of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV), in both the barley host and the aphid vector.
13 January 2025

Herbicide resistance update on 2024 harvest samples

As part of the Teagasc weed monitoring programme, grass weeds suspected of herbicide resistance or difficult to control were submitted by growers/advisors in 2024 for testing. Vijaya Bhaskar AV shares key findings and insights.
10 January 2025

The many benefits of crop rotation

As part of an article first published in Today’s Farm, John Pettit, B&T Advisor, and Ciaran Collins, Crops Specialist, took a closer look at crop rotation including its ecological, integrated pest management, cost savings and risk management benefits.
09 January 2025

Part three: The Key Steps to Successful Implementation - Planning for Farm Succession

For the third episode in a four-part series on farm succession planning on the Tillage Edge podcast, James McDonnell, a financial specialist with Teagasc, takes a closer look at the key steps to successful implementation and revisiting a succession plan.
09 January 2025

Tillage advice: Minimum buffer zones to protect water

As we enter the New Year, attention will soon shift to ploughing and cultivation. With this in mind, Crops Specialist at Teagasc, Ciaran Collins reminds us why it is essential to adhere to buffer zones near water sources.
03 January 2025

Nutrient management planning for 2025

Shay Phelan, Crops Specialist at Teagasc, shares seven things to consider for effective nutrient management planning in 2025.
28 December 2024

Planning for farm succession: Tax implications of farm transfers

For the second of the four-part series on farm succession, James McDonnell, a Farm Management Specialist with Teagasc re-joins Michael Hennessy to take a closer look at the various tax implications when planning for the farm transfer.
26 December 2024

What lies ahead for tillage margins?

As part of the Teagasc Outlook 2025, Economic Prospects for Agriculture, Dr. Fiona Thorne of the Teagasc Agricultural Economics and Farm Surveys Department provided a forecast for 2025 tillage margins.
26 December 2024

Reviewing yields with Signpost farmer Tom Barry

After a challenging year, Tom Barry, a Signpost tillage farmer from Co. Cork, takes a look back at the yields obtained on his farm.
23 December 2024

The story behind your Christmas potatoes

Most of the potatoes on Irish tables this Christmas will come from local farms, showcasing the country’s rich agricultural heritage. Shay Phelan explores potato cultivation, popular Christmas varieties, and the thriving local market for this festive staple.
23 December 2024

The Next Generation: Planning for Farm Succession

In this first episode of a four-part series on The Tillage Edge, how families can best plan for succession on the farm is explored.
19 December 2024

Minding the soil for the next generation

Next generation considerations are never too far from James O’Keeffe’s mind, an organic tillage farmer from Crossakiel, Co. Meath who was crowned the winner of the Improving Soil Health Category of the Teagasc FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards 2024.
19 December 2024

Vincent Macken’s reflections after a ‘whirlwind’ year for tillage farming

Looking back on the whirlwind year that’s been, Signpost tillage farmer, Vincent Macken takes time to reflect on his 2024 farming decisions and crop yields.
16 December 2024

Calculating tillage incomes for 2024

Teagasc Economist, Dr. Fiona Thorne discusses the key findings from the recent Teagasc Outlook 2025 conference on this week’s Tillage Edge.
12 December 2024

Straw incorporation - its role in achieving net zero on tillage farms

Ciaran Collins, Crops Specialist at Teagasc, takes a closer look at straw incorporation and its important role in achieving net zero on tillage farms. This follows an announcement by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine that Straw Incorporation Measure payments had commenced.
12 December 2024

Assessing your tillage performance as winter approaches

Michael Hennessy, Head of Crops Knowledge Transfer in Teagasc, shares advice on protecting crops over the winter, benchmarking your yields to help pinpoint strengths and weaknesses in your crop management and, most importantly, assessing your farm’s performance.
06 December 2024

Leading the Way in Sustainable Tillage: Tom Barry’s Journey – Part 2

For this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, Michael Hennessy re-joins Tom Barry, a tillage farmer from North Cork, who shares how he’s implementing sustainable farming practices, using organic manures and reducing fertiliser use to enhancing biodiversity.
05 December 2024

Farm incomes forecast to rise in 2025

Published today, December 3 as part of the Outlook 2025 Conference held in Teagasc Ashtown, the Teagasc Outlook 2025, Economic Prospects for Agriculture Report, looks ahead to future prospects by forecasting farm incomes in 2025.
03 December 2024

Farm incomes move up in 2024

A new report, by economists at Teagasc, provides the latest estimates of average incomes for various farm types in 2024 and looks ahead to future prospects by forecasting farm incomes in 2025.
03 December 2024

Tillage emissions stable

Despite profitability and weather related challenges, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Irish tillage farms remained stable over 2023, the recently released Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS) Sustainability Report 2023 has indicated.
30 November 2024

Oilseed Rape Updates and Machinery Costs

Shay Phelan discusses the current condition of oilseed rape crops, herbicide application strategies, and the management of machinery costs on tillage farms.
28 November 2024