Tillage Newsletter - December 2021

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In this month's edition:

• Crop management
  Above normal temperatures in most areas during the month of November have resulted in cereal crops continuing to grow quite rapidly and they are dense and more forward than would normally be the case at this time of year. We have seen this before and when crops are this advanced in mild conditions diseases start to appear.
• Curtailing the impacts of high fertiliser prices
  Fertiliser costs increased in early 2021 but in the last six months, prices have escalated to all-time highs. Nitrogen (N) has doubled in cost due to the limited supply and rising costs of natural gas. Fertilisers are one of the largest costs in cereal crop production and now is a good time to plan to reduce price effects in 2022.
• Signpost Programme
  The Teagasc Signpost farms will focus on practices to reduce emissions and nutrient losses, understand and improve soil carbon, while enhancing biodiversity and water quality. There are six tillage farmers who have signed up for the programme and this month’s profiles are of Don Somers and Vincent Macken.
• Health & Safety - Prevent fire deaths in the farm home
  Irish research has shown that farmers and agricultural workers account for 20% of all fire deaths. Almost all fires occur in dwelling houses. This level is proportionately higher than other sectors.