Crops

Teagasc Regional Winter Crop Walks - February 2022
Teagasc will hold Regional Crop Walks (in person!!) from February 15 -18 starting in Oak Park, Carlow at 2pm. The Crop walks will cover the agronomy of all the major winter crops – with a special focus on nutrient advice. To find a walk near you check out details for all of the walks here
10 February 2022

The big pension problem for farmers in Ireland
Under the current Irish State pension system, low-income farmers might not qualify for the contributory or non-contributory State pension. Researchers at Teagasc and Maynooth University have been investigating the effect proposed changes to the State pension system will have on farmers in Ireland.
10 February 2022

Organic Farming Scheme opens
The Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) opened today (February 9th) for new applicants into the scheme. The scheme will financially reward farmers who commit to farming their land organically. Joe Kelleher, Teagasc Organic Specialist has information about the new scheme here in this article and podcast
09 February 2022

Opportunities in Organic Farming
Teagasc has organised a series of information events for farmers who are considering joining the new Organic Farming Scheme, which was opened by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on Wednesday, 9 February. Find out more about all of these events here
09 February 2022

Soil Sampling and Analysis Factsheet
Teagasc recently published a compendium of 20 factsheets providing the latest technical advice on soils, nutrients and fertiliser. The first of these is about Soil Sampling and Analysis and can be read here. All 20 will be published here on Teagasc Daily
08 February 2022

Protected urea is Agricultures Answer to the Electric Car
Protected urea and electric cars have a lot in common. Both are beneficial to the environment by reducing their carbon footprint. Seamus Kearney Teagasc Signpost Programme explains that Protected urea is more cost effective than its previous form and 75% less GHG emissions than CAN. Find out more
06 February 2022

Improving Biodiversity on Your Farm - Planting a hedge
February is a key month to get planting native trees and hedging on your farm. Always plant native trees and hedging on the farm as they have a much higher biodiversity value. That means they provide a higher habitat value for our natural flora and fauna says Mark O’Sullivan, Clonakilty advisor
05 February 2022

Potato Newsletter February 2022
The recent Teagasc Crop Costs and Returns booklet is interesting, if not scary, reading for many growers. All costs including fertiliser, seed, diesel, parts etc. will be higher this year than 2021 increasing pressure on margins for the 2022 crop. The February Teagasc Potato Newsletter has advice
04 February 2022

Long-term Land Leasing
Why are landowners considering Long-term Land Leasing? Gordon Peppard, Teagasc Collaborative Farming Specialist has the answer to this and lists the many benefits including enhanced tax relief incentives, advantages for the lessee, details on stamping the lease & valuable information you should know
03 February 2022

New Appointment to Teagasc Authority
Donald Scully has been appointed to the Teagasc Authority for a five-year term by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD. Donald Scully is a member of the ICMSA executive committee and is a dairy farmer from Cherryhill House, Ballyhyland, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.
03 February 2022

Tillage Update - 3rd February 2022
One of the key elements of the sustainable use directive (SUD) is that sprayers must be tested and certified. A properly functioning sprayer is essential to get the best response from plant protection products (PPP’s) and to protect the environment. Ciaran Collins, Crops Specialist has more advice
03 February 2022

Teagasc Virtual Tillage Conference 2022
The 2022 National Tillage Conference took place virtually, split over two days. The first session took place on Thursday, 13 January and the second took place on Thursday, 27 January. Catch up with both days here in this double webinar on Teagasc Daily
03 February 2022

Teagasc celebrates World Wetlands Day 2022
The Irish Ramsar Wetlands Committee invites you to celebrate World Wetlands day on the 2nd February. Mary Roache, Teagasc ASSAP Advisor & Teagasc representative on The Irish Ramsar Wetlands Committee, reminds us that that farmers play a key role in the conservation and “wise use of wetlands”
02 February 2022

Three Reasons to use Protected Urea in 2022
Protected urea grows more grass in the long term. This is just one of three reasons why farmers should use Protected Urea in 2022. Mark Plunkett, Patrick Forrestal and Siobhán Kavanagh, Teagasc detail these and how to use it while Patrick Forrestal has tips on using protected urea in a video also
31 January 2022

Tillage Update - 27th January 2022
How did your on farm trials work out last year? If you did not do any, what plans do you have this year to check whether the products you are applying are value for money?. Michael Hennessy, Head of Crop KT, Teagasc suggests carrying out replicated trials on your farm. He explains the process here
28 January 2022

Using pig slurry to save money makes more sense than ever
Pig slurry is now worth €48 per 1000 gallons. This double its normal value because fertiliser prices have never been so expensive. Using pig slurry can save you money - now more than ever before! Amy Quinn, Teagasc Pig Development Department has guidance for farmers importing pig slurry here
28 January 2022

Teagasc Soils, Nutrients and Fertiliser Campaign launched by Minister McConalogue
The Teagasc Soils, Nutrients and Fertiliser Campaign 2022 has been launched by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD. This Teagasc initiative is in response to the unprecedented fertiliser prices, and potential supply availability concerns arising in Spring 2022
26 January 2022

GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme 2022 is open
On Friday, 21st January, the 2022 GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme opened for online applications. The scheme is open to GLAS farmers for the conservation of traditional farm outbuildings. It will close on 22nd February 2022. Find out more about what's involved here
25 January 2022

Planning for cash flow on the tillage farm in 2022
For tillage farmers reflecting on 2021 will be a pleasant experience. Weather was mostly favourable for the various tasks. With the focus on fertiliser prices, Michael Hennessy, Head of Crop KT, Teagasc emphasises the importance of planning now as 2022 will be different in comparison to 2021
24 January 2022

Plan spring fertiliser applications for tillage crops
Considering the cost of nitrogen in 2022, it’s a good year for farmers to look at ways to reduce nitrogen use on farm. There are a number of ways to reduce nitrogen use including; growing your own nitrogen (using legume crops), reduce nitrogen inputs and more options as discussed here
21 January 2022

Tillage Update - 20th January 2022
In this week's tillage update Mark Plunkett, Teagasc Crops Specialist discusses Cereal Crops P & K Requirements. He focuses on the role of P and K, the strategy to adopt for Soil P and K Index in 2022, and he has P & K advice for the different cereal crops.
20 January 2022

Time to move if forming a Registered Farm Partnership
Registered Farm Partnership (RFP) is an excellent arrangement to bring a young person into the family farm business without having to immediately sign over the land. Keep an eye on the February 11 deadline. Gordon Peppard Teagasc Collaborative Farming Specialist has key advice
20 January 2022

Teagasc & NUI Galway partner new BSc Agricultural Science degree in the West
2021 saw the launch of a brand new BSc in Agricultural Science at the National University of Ireland Galway with a strong focus on Sustainable Agriculture. Teagasc and NUI Galway have announced a partnership to deliver on the huge demand for an Agricultural Degree programme in the West of Ireland.
20 January 2022

Growing Grass Using Less Nitrogen Fertiliser
This Thursday at 7pm join John Douglas and Joseph Dunphy, Teagasc Grass10 and Micheal O'Leary from PastureBase Ireland online, for advice on Getting the best response from what fertiliser you apply. David O'Leary, 2020 Young Grassland Farmer of the Year will talk about his system. Register here
18 January 2022

Teagasc Signpost Programme Newsletter January 2022
In this month’s newsletter, Minister McConalogue explains the Climate Action Plan and what it means for Agriculture. We have our monthly climate actions, a video with timely advice for spring nutrient management for 2022 and an article on laying new hedges. We also provide 2 decision support tools
17 January 2022

Signpost Tillage farmer: Tom Tierney
Tom Tierney is a tillage farmer in Prosperous in County Kildare. Tom uses a no-till establishment system in conjunction with cover crops to improve soil health. He is a participant in GLAS and in the Kildare Pollinator project to try to reduce his impact on the environment and improve biodiversity
16 January 2022

Plan your spring fertiliser applications
There are three areas of focus planning for 2022 which require careful planning: limiting the increase in expenditure in fertiliser, growing sufficient grass to feed animals and protecting the soil fertility on the farm for the future. Find out how and avoid waste with the advice outlined here.
15 January 2022

Cork Student wins Teagasc award at BTYSTE 2022 – Potential of nematodes to replace pesticides
Johannah Pigott, a Transition Year student from Colaiste Treasa, Kanturk, Co. Cork, is the winner of the Teagasc award at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2022 (BTYSTE). Johannah’s project looked at the potential of nematodes to replace chemical pesticides.
14 January 2022

Teagasc at BTYSTE: Breeding potatoes for the future
We Irish love our potatoes. Ireland’s average annual potato consumption is 85kg per person – two-and-a-half times higher than the world average. Find out about Teagasc potato research into breeding potatoes, including the rooster variety from Teagasc researchers Catriona Boyle and Denis Griffin
14 January 2022

Tillage Update - 13th January 2022
Most cereal growers have some level of catch or cover crops growing in fields that are destined for spring crops. Shay Phelan, Teagasc Crops Specialist focuses on managing catch crops in this tillage update.
13 January 2022