Tillage advice: Guidance on spring cereal planting
After a small amount of rain in the past week, the weather looks to be relatively dry for the next week to 10 days. Michael Hennessy, Head of Crops Knowledge Transfer, offers advice to farmers considering planting in this article.
March is just around the corner and many farmers will be anxious to start planting cereals. That being said, there are many late sown winter wheat and early sowing spring barley planted well over three weeks now. In fact, the conditions have been so good for the past three weeks, the earliest sown crops are now beginning to break ground.
Soil temperatures are between 8 and 10oC, which is 4-5oC higher than normal for the time of the year. These temperatures can be expected to drop back with frosts over the coming days. However, where soils are close to 8oC, crops will emerge relatively quickly, which reduces the risks of bird attack. Having many of your neighbours planting at the same time will also help to dilute bird attack.
It is still very early to plant spring crops and there can be a significant loss of seed before emergence. For the coming couple of weeks, keep planting rates on the higher side. Care is still needed not to misjudge soils; the soil on top is dry but still damp underneath. Under these conditions, soil damage from heavy machinery will become clear just after emergence and you will have to live with it for the season.
For spring barley, aim to establish 300 plants/m2. You need to factor in a significant field loss of 25% or an establishment rate of 85% for seeds sown. For typical barley varieties, this will equate to 190-200kg/ha at TGW 50-52. These figures are average seeding rates based on specific seed weights. You need to calculate the seeding rate based on the TGW of the seed you use on your farm. This should be printed on the bags and, if not, ask your merchant where you purchased it.
Tillage Edge Podcast
In the latest Tillage Edge Podcast, Mick Fawle and Ciaran Collins chat about protein production in Ireland and the markets available. Mick Fawle, who works for Charles R Wynne in the south east, told the podcast how the company uses both beans and peas in their ration. Mick especially emphasised the value of peas in speciality rations for calf and lamb creep feed. Mick said the company could utilise another 1,000t of peas in these types of rations.
Charles R Wynne also assemble over 1,000t of peas for a Bachelors’ contract. This is a closed contract to existing farmer suppliers; however Mick said if additional food market opened up for human consumption the company was in a good position to process and supply this market. Mick pointed out the food market generally utilises white type peas, whereas peas grown in Ireland to date are a green pea. Mick said the company would be willing to work with any company who expresses an interest in this area. Ciaran Collins spoke about how attractive planting beans or peas are this year in terms of margin compared to spring cereals. Mick also pointed to this fact and said a 6.1t/ha (2.5t/ac) crop of beans has an equivalent margin to a 10t/ha (4t/ac) crop of spring barley.
For more see: https://share.transistor.fm/s/0ef48f1d