Crops
Looking back on the tillage year & the learnings from it
As the end of the year approaches, most tillage farmers will want to forget 2023. Unfortunately it will be remembered as a year of weather extremes and the resulting difficulties.
21 December 2023
Tillage advice: The importance of soil sampling
Ciaran Collins, Teagasc Crops Specialist, tells us why an up-to-date soil test report is important, while highlighting legislation changes which make soil sampling mandatory and essential when fertiliser planning for the year ahead.
21 December 2023
Grower feedback wanted on winter crop plantings
Following a challenging autumn and early winter period on tillage farms, Teagasc has launched a survey to help identify the areas planted this autumn and to shed light on farmers’ cropping plans for next spring.
19 December 2023
Mutual benefits - Cork tillage and dairy farmers work together
Ciaran Collins, Teagasc Crops Specialist, and Advisor Michael McCarthy report on Cork tillage and dairy farmers working together in a textbook example of the ‘circular economy’ at work in farming.
18 December 2023
Forward selling - did you miss the boat or dodge the on-coming bus?
Michael Hennessy, Teagasc Head of Crops Knowledge Transfer, reflects on a conversation he had with Phelim Dolan, a grain trader in Comex-McKinnon, as part of an episode of the Tillage Edge podcast on grain markets and what future prices may hold.
14 December 2023
What to expect from the grain markets in early 2024
Over the past few months, grain markets have not hit the headlines, but are still happily functioning in the background.
14 December 2023
Irish farmers achieve key 2030 nitrogen fertiliser reduction target
Recently published figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) have highlighted the progress Irish farmers have made in terms of reducing their nitrogen fertiliser usage - a key step in achieving agriculture’s emission reduction targets.
12 December 2023
Organic tillage research in Wexford
Earlier this year, Teagasc carried out an organic manure treatments trial on a crop of organic spring oats near Duncannon, Co. Wexford, Martin Bourke, Organic Tillage Specialist, tells us more.
09 December 2023
Essential sprayer and tractor maintenance for the winter
On this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, Dermot Forristal, a researcher in Teagasc, joins Michael Hennessy to talk about protecting sprayers and tractors from frost over the winter.
08 December 2023
Tillage advice: Pest control in recently drilled winter wheat
Shay Phelan, Teagasc Crops Specialist, offers advice on the management and pest control of late-drilled winter wheat crops, herbicide programmes for winter barley and oilseed rape, while also providing a reminder on the importance of fertiliser planning for 2024.
07 December 2023
Drainage issues on tillage land - part 2
In the second of a two part series on drainage, Michael Hennessy continues his discussion with Pat Tuohy, a researcher in Teagasc dealing with soil hydrology and drainage, to talk about field drainage issues on tillage farms.
30 November 2023
Double whammy of lower yields and prices hit cereals returns
The average tillage farm income is forecast to be approximately 60% lower in 2023 than in 2022, the recently published Outlook 2024, Economic Prospects for Agriculture report, which was prepared by the Teagasc Agricultural Economics and Farm Surveys Department, has revealed.
30 November 2023
Teagasc National Farm Survey 2022 - Cereals Enterprise
The 2022 National Farm Survey (NFS) recorded data on 795 farms. This article summarises the results for the major cereal enterprises (winter wheat and spring barley) on farms within the survey.
26 November 2023
Check your seed rates
Michael Hennessy, Teagasc Head of Crops Knowledge Transfer, tells us that many farmers are taking the opportunity to plant more cereals in the coming days, following the welcome break in the weather. However, he explains that seed rates need close attention to allow for poorer conditions.
24 November 2023
The options for weed control in winter cereals over the coming weeks
Very few of the emerged winter cereal crops have received a herbicide this autumn. Pre-emergence herbicides are generally the cornerstone of weed control in winter cereals, alternative options will be needed this year.
23 November 2023
Scheme updates: SIS payments commence and deadline for Unharvested Crop Support Scheme approaches
Over recent days, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has provided updates in regard to the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) payment dates and additional funding being directed to tillage farmers with unharvested cereal crops.
21 November 2023
Wet October hits autumn planting
The area of winter-sown crops to be harvested in 2024 will decline significantly, a recent report published by the Teagasc crops team has indicated.
21 November 2023
How weeds adapt to your system
John Cussans, Weed Biology and Management Specialist at the National Institute of Botany (NIAB) in the UK, discussed how weeds adapt to agricultural systems on various levels at the recent Teagasc Enable Conservation Tillage Grass Weed Conference.
20 November 2023
Estimates point to a 20% decline in 2023 cereal harvest
The Harvest Report published by Teagasc estimates that the production of cereals was 1.93 million tonnes in 2023. This represents a decrease of 492,500 tonnes (20%) from harvest 2022. All cereal crop yields were below the five-year average in this weather-disrupted season.
17 November 2023
Watch: Farmers share their experiences of controlling grass weeds
Farmers involved in the Enable Conservation Tillage (ECT) Project have shared their experiences of controlling grass weeds on their farms.
17 November 2023
Potato harvesting difficulties persist
Progress in terms of potato harvesting is still very slow, explains Teagasc Crops Specialist Shay Phelan, with the continuing poor weather conditions showing no sign of improvement.
16 November 2023
Part 1: Dealing with drainage issues on tillage land
The wet autumn has shown up areas in all farms which are wet and may need some drainage attention in the coming months or years.
16 November 2023
Watch: Assessing the extent of grass weed problems on Irish tillage farms
As part of the Enable Conservation Tillage Project - a pan-European project which aimed to improve farmer and industry knowledge of grass weeds - Teagasc undertook a survey of 103 tillage farms over 2020 and 2021 to assess the extent of the grass weed problem nationally.
15 November 2023
'Where are the women?'
During the opening and closing of her address to the recent conference on Irish Agriculture and the EU 50 years on, a journey through 50 years of Ireland’s EU membership, EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness posed the question 'where are the women?'
12 November 2023
UK farmers struggling with the wet conditions
Farmers in the UK are struggling with wet conditions and Andrew Mahon, an Irish farm manager in the heart of England, is on the latest Tillage Edge podcast to chat about the farm he manages and the wider experience of farmers across the UK.
09 November 2023
A good growing season for beet but Cercospora leaf spot causing leaf deterioration
While it’s still early in the season for harvesting fodder beet, early indications are that this year’s 9,300ha crop is yielding very well. Ciarán Collins tells us more.
09 November 2023
Farming in a modern climate at Ballinafagh
Tom Tierney, a participant in the Teagasc Signpost Programme, tells us of the happenings on his farm over the month of October. Tom farms 165ha of owned and long-term leased land in partnership with his neighbour Gordon.
08 November 2023
Teagasc Oak Park farm update
Brendan Burke, the farm manager in Teagasc Oak Park, Carlow, joined the Tillage Edge this week to talk about the progress on the research farm over the past few months.
03 November 2023
Grass Weed Conference a must attend
Michael Hennessey, Head of Crops Knowledge Transfer, previews the upcoming Grass Weed Conference, detailing what to expect at next week’s event.
02 November 2023
Using poultry manures on tillage farms - a win-win opportunity
Building stable and healthy relationships between tillage and poultry enterprises will create a win-win for both, John Mahon, Teagasc Signpost Tillage Advisor, told those attending the recent Signpost Programme Poultry event in Monasterboice, Co. Louth.
28 October 2023