Crops
Minister Heydon outlines how the tillage sector can be developed
Minister of State, Martin Heydon T.D. joins this week’s Tillage Edge podcast to talk about the recently published Food Vision 2030 Tillage Report, which sets out 28 recommendations to develop the tillage sector.
30 May 2024
Funding for BYDV and gut microbiome research
Teagasc researchers, Dr Louise McNamara and Dr Orla O’Sullivan have been awarded funding as part of the SFI Frontiers for the Future Programme in the respective areas of research in BYDV and the gut microbiome.
29 May 2024
Potato crop walks get underway as blight cases emerge
With cases of blight beginning to emerge, Teagasc will host a number of potato crop walks this week, with the first scheduled for Co. Meath on Wednesday, May 29.
27 May 2024
Grass weeds – their prevention and eradication
Grass weeds can be a serious risk to tillage farmers and, unlike the weather or international markets, grass weed prevention and eradication is something that is in the farmer’s control.
23 May 2024
Take action on blackgrass
Teagasc Crops Specialist, Shay Phelan advises growers to walk their crops in the coming days and weeks, as blackgrass has already started to flower in some crops. He also offers key advice on the management of spring cereals and beans.
23 May 2024
Herbicide resistance update for grass weeds
Vijaya Bhaskar, Teagasc Oak Park, tells us how difficult-to-control grass weeds such as Italian ryegrass, blackgrass, wild oats and bromes pose herbicide resistance problems on our tillage farms.
20 May 2024
Controlling Net blotch in RGT Planet Spring Barley
Net blotch in RGT Planet is hardly a new phenomenon but growers are concerned by how early in the crops development it has appeared this year. Ciaran Collins tells us more.
17 May 2024
More organic tillage needed
An upsurge in the number of organic livestock farms has created an opportunity for the Irish organic tillage sector to expand.
16 May 2024
Sequencing ag-chems for spring crops this year
Spring crops will develop quickly in the shorter season and timing of the necessary inputs will be difficult. Shay Phelan and Ciaran Collins, Teagasc Tillage Specialists, join this week’s Tillage Edge to talk about sequencing the critical inputs to crops.
16 May 2024
Ireland’s plant protein potential: what is holding us back?
In a world where concerns mount over food security, nutrition, and environmental sustainability, it’s hard to overlook the potential of protein crops to help tackle such issues simultaneously, writes Alan Fahy, Research Officer at Teagasc Johnstown Castle.
15 May 2024
Management advice for late-sown spring barley
The majority of spring barley will emerge in May. This brings different management challenges compared to barley emerging in March/April, writes Ciaran Collins, Teagasc Crops Specialist.
15 May 2024
Growing beans and peas in combination - Wexford farmer tests the water
Don Somers is a tillage farmer from Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. In this update, Don speaks about the challenges of a late spring, experimentation with a combination crop of peas and beans and why he’s making strategic adjustments in agronomy, tailored to accommodate the delayed planting schedule.
10 May 2024
Minimising BYDV in crops
BYDV levels are high and it can have a significant negative yield impact in both winter and spring crops. Dr Louise McNamara joins the Tillage Edge this week to chat about the current BYDV levels in winter crops and how to minimise BYDV in spring crops.
09 May 2024
NBPT Urea (Protected Urea) on late-sown barley - the opportunities
Through advancements in technology, Teagasc Signpost Programme Tillage Advisor, John Mahon explains how farmers can use NBPT urea products to not only save on input costs but to also reduce their carbon footprint when growing barley.
09 May 2024
Crucial fungicide timing approaching for winter barley
October sown winter barley is approaching the crucial final fungicide timing of awn emergence. Teagasc Crops Specialist, Ciaran Collins has some key advice as broken weather is increasing disease pressure and may also hamper correct spray timings.
02 May 2024
A view of the year so far from two contractors
Contractors play a vital role in the tillage industry and this week on The Tillage Edge podcast, Michael Hennessy chats to two contractors, Patrick Nolan, who is working close to Athy, Co Kildare and Padraig Noonan, close to Conna in Cork.
02 May 2024
Continually using one herbicide type is causing more resistant meadow grasses
Resistance in meadow grasses could pose a threat to future weed control, writes Teagasc researcher Vijaya Bhaskar
02 May 2024
Official statistics reveal extent of cereal decline in 2023
Official data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has revealed the rate at which cereal production declined in 2023, with the production of the three main cereals – wheat, barley and oats – all back.
30 April 2024
Key advice for winter barley, winter wheat and fertiliser for spring cereals
Shay Phelan, Teagasc Crops Specialist, looks at the field work required for winter barley and wheat crops in the coming days and weeks and provides some key tips on a fertiliser strategy for late-sown spring cereals.
25 April 2024
Meet the Irish company producing generic ag-chems
Life Scientific is an Irish company researching, developing and manufacturing off-patent plant protection products for the global market.
25 April 2024
Guaranteed buyer needed when growing forage crops
A troublesome spring for planting has seen the crop choices available to tillage farmers become somewhat limited. As a result, some tillage farmers are considering growing forage crops for livestock farmers as a way of spreading the crop establishment and harvest workload.
18 April 2024
Tillage advice: Seeding rates, fertiliser and planting spring beans
The prospect of at least two weeks of fine, dry weather is lifting everybody's mood. In order to make the best of the dry spell, Teagasc Head of Crops Knowledge Transfer, Michael Hennessy explains planning is needed - especially around sourcing materials which will be needed in the coming weeks.
18 April 2024
Managing winter crops in the coming weeks
Teagasc Tillage Specialists, Ciaran Collins and Shay Phelan joined Michael Hennessy on the latest Tillage Edge podcast to talk about winter crop management over the next couple of weeks.
18 April 2024
An update from Tom Barry, Signpost Tillage Farmer
Tom Barry, who farms in Killavullen, outside Mallow, Co. Cork, gives an update on his winter crops, spring work and fertiliser plans.
18 April 2024
Crop establishments, silage supplies and slurry storage pressures continue
The convening of the National Fodder and Feed Security Committee on April 9 heard that pressures relating to spring crop establishments, silage supplies and slurry storage are continuing to create significant challenges at farm level.
13 April 2024
Crop establishment in a difficult spring
Recent conditions are extremely challenging for soil cultivation and leave the soil prone to traffic damage too. Dermot Forristal, Crops and Mechanisation Researcher in Teagasc Oak Park, has some key advice on crop establishment in a difficult spring.
12 April 2024
Cropping decisions for the coming weeks
The continuing poor weather is forcing many farmers to change their cropping decisions. On this week’s Tillage Edge, Ciaran Collins and Shay Phelan, both Tillage Specialists in Teagasc, discuss the benefits and risks of making cropping changes.
12 April 2024
Navigating Late-Sown Spring Malting Barley: Management Practices for Wet Weather Conditions
Rebecca Bayley, Teagasc/Boortmalt Joint Programme Advisor, explains effective management practices for late-sown spring malting barley, focusing on strategies to address challenges posed by wet weather and optimize crop yield and quality.
11 April 2024
The farm-to-farm trading of organic feed regulations
With over 5,000 farmers now enrolled in the Organic Farming Scheme, inter-farm trading of organic crops is seen as an effective solution for organic livestock farmers to secure part of their winter feed supply, while also providing organic tillage farmers with a suitable market for their crops.
10 April 2024
Maintaining positive wellbeing during this challenging spring weather
Finola Colgan, Development Officer at Mental Health Ireland, and Francis Bligh, Health and Safety Specialist at Teagasc, give advice on maintaining positive wellbeing during this challenging spring weather.
09 April 2024