Tillage Newsletter - October 2024

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In this month's edition:

• Autumn planting
  2024 was another wet season, which will cause soil compaction problems. All growers should dig a few holes around your fields to assess the amount of damage in the previous two years, especially if you are in reduced cultivation systems. Last year, we could see areas of fields that performed poorly as a result of compaction. Before any crop is sown, this will give you a good idea of what the soil is like underneath.
  
  • Variety choice
    • Winter barley had a poor year in 2024 and at harvest time many growers were questioning whether to stick with it. It does have a lot of advantages in terms of spreading the workload. When deciding on a variety, yield is often the deciding factor, but straw strength and the disease resistance profile can often add hidden costs that can be more important than the yield rating.
    • In winter wheat, the choice of varieties is very limited, with just six. Graham (45%) will make up most of the available seed this year.
    • In oats, Enya makes the recommended list this year along with Isabel and Husky. Enya has a similar yield to Husky and similar mildew resistance to both Isabel and Husky; however, it has a slightly lower score for lodging.
  • Seed rates
    Soils are much drier this year thanks to the recent dry September, so drilling conditions should be somewhat better than last year.
• Autumn weed control
  Pre-emergence herbicides have been shown to be more effective in controlling many problem grass weeds, such as bromes, blackgrass and annual meadow grass. There are plenty of options, so pick a mix that will control the main weeds in each field.
  • Control options
    Products such as pendimethalin (various), prosulfocarb (Defy/Roxy), and flufenacet (Firebird/Navigate, etc.) give best results when applied early, especially where annual meadow grass is a problem, while chlorotoluron (Tower) can be used early post emergence. Add in diflufenican (Stride/Diflanil, etc.) to improve the control of charlock, chickweed and speedwells. Firebird Met will help to control groundsel, as well as many other broadleaf and grass weeds.
• Winter oilseed rape
  Given the delayed harvest, chances to drill oilseed rape were more limited this year. Slug damage doesn’t seem to be much of an issue, but be alert, especially if you drilled in September. If there are any signs of grazing, apply slug pellets as soon as possible.
  • Fungicide
    Phoma will be the main target of autumn fungicide applications; however, varieties differ in their susceptibility, so follow the threshold guidelines for control (10% of plants affected).
• Health & Safety - Grant for PTO shaft covers
  Reminder – the National Farm Safety Measure 2024 provides a financial contribution for up to four PTO shaft covers. Closing date for applications is November 1. For further information talk to your advisor or go to: www.gov.ie/farmsafety