Tillage Newsletter - September 2022
Get the latest information and advice from the Crops team in this month's newsletter. It includes: Teagasc Crop Forum; Planning for harvest 2023; Autumn planting; Time for soil sampling; and Health & Safety - Maintaining well-being.
View it here: Tillage Newsletter - September 2022 (PDF)
In this month's edition:
- Teagasc Crop Forum
This year's Teagasc Crop Forum takes place on September 8, 2022 from 2pm-5pm in the Killashee Hotel, Naas. The themes of this year’s Crop Forum will be:
1. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in a tillage context. 2. Reducing financial risk on tillage farms. The event will conclude with a discussion forum with contributors from across the sector. - Planning for harvest 2023
The stakes will be much higher for tillage farmers in 2023 as input costs, mainly driven by fertiliser, are expected to increase substantially. Tillage farmers carrying higher costs are highly exposed and are financially vulnerable if grain markets fall significantly below their current level. - Autumn planting
It is always tempting to avail of good weather in September to plant winter cereals but early planting carries risks. Planting winter wheat and barley early (in mid to late September – later further south) generally ensures good seedbeds and favourable temperatures during germination, leading to higher establishment rates. However, there is an increased threat from take-all, foliar diseases, lodging, grass weeds and aphids (barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV)). - Time for soil sampling
Crop yields from harvest 2022 were above average for most crops. This will have resulted in increased offtakes of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), so it is very important to now assess crop P and K offtakes and soil fertility over the coming weeks. Teagasc analysed 3,794 tillage soil samples in 2021 and the results show a slight decline in soil fertility on tillage farms when compared to the previous year. - Health & Safety - Maintaining well-being
Wellbeing is vital for ongoing satisfaction with life, yet rural dwellers report lower levels of wellbeing than the population as a whole. Mental Health Ireland (MHI) advocates a five-step approach that anyone can follow to feel good and function well.