Teagasc tillage specialist, Shay Phelan, has encouraged all tillage farmers to check cereal crops for the presence of blackgrass.

“The threat of herbicide resistant grasslands weeds continues to grow. Not only is blackgrass a problem – weeds giving cause for concern include Italian ryegrass and wild oats,” Phelan said.

Phelan attended the 2024 Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) cereal variety trials open day.

The event, which was organised in association with the Irish Seed Trade Association (ISTA) was held at Ballyderown Farm, near Kilworth in Cork.

The Teagasc representative continued: “Not all blackgrass infestations will be herbicide resistant. However, work carried out at Teagasc Oak Park has indicated that many are.”

Phelan has advised tillage farmers to walk their crops and hand rogue individual blackgrass, Italian ryegrass and wild oat plants.

“If this is not possible, growers should note where these plants are and treat specific these locations post-harvest.

“Spot spraying individual now with the likes of glyphosate now won’t work as it will not prevent the weeds form shedding their seed.”

It is believed that the continued use of the one herbicide chemistry will lead to resistance within grass weed populations.

Farms where Italian ryegrass and blackgrass are present should be treated as resistance-suspect, and samples sent for analysis prior to harvest.

Blackgrass

A zero tolerance approach should be taken to avoid weed seed being returned.

On farms where Acetyl CoA Carboxylase (ACCase)-resistant spring wild oats are present there , is only one control option available: Acetolactate synthase (ALS) herbicides: Pacifica or Broadway.

According to Teagasc, this is a crisis situation.

Significantly, no full herbicide-resistant brome strains have as yet been detected on Irish farms.

Both ALS (Pacifica, Broadway) and ACCase (Falcon, Stratos) have been found to be effective when applied at full label rates on small and actively growing plants.

But, the loss of sensitivity with lower application rates of these herbicides is concerning.

Cultural control methods such as stale seedbeds, rotation, later sowing etc., should be practiced where brome is present.

Increased vigilance on the part of tillage farmers in dealing with the threat posed by herbicide-resistant grass weeds will be required.

This approach will include resistance testing and integrated approaches, such as the use of cultural control systems and judicious use of herbicides into the future.

Significantly, Teagasc’s 2023 testing of resistance-suspect grass weeds revealed a worrying situation: 60% of samples submitted were found to be resistant to a wide range of herbicides.

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PAN (Pesticide Action Network) Europe, a group of NGOs that seeks to stop the use synthetic pesticides, will go the European Court of Justice to overturn a European Commission decision not to review the approval of glyphosate.

Last November the commission adopted a regulation that renews approval of glyphosate for plant protection purposes for 10 years in the EU.

The commission made this decision as EU member states could not agree whether to renew or reject the approval of the product.

Glyphosate is a chemical substance used in a number of herbicide products and its use in Europe is now approved until 2033. However, it has been widely claimed that the chemical can cause cancer, with some courts in the US ruling in favour of plaintiffs that took cases against glyphosate product producers.

It is understood that individual member states retain the power to decide for themselves not to authorise glyphosate in their own jurisdictions.

PAN Europe announced after the commission’s decision that it would try to reverse it, and this week, the commission rejected the network’s request to review the approval. PAN Europe said it will challenge that rejection. It has two months to file a formal court challenge.

In January, a number of member NGOs associated with PAN Europe, along with some other groups, sent a formal request for internal review to the European Commission.

They asked to revise the reapproval of glyphosate, claiming that there were “numerous flaws” in the work of the EU agencies, namely the European Commission, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

These groups also claimed that the European Commission disregarded a series of “data gaps” identified by the EFSA.

Commenting on the commission’s decision not to review its approval of glyphosate, Angeliki Lyssimachou, head of science and policy at PAN Europe said: “The commission’s reply is unacceptable. People and the environment are exposed to glyphosate on a daily basis.

“Independent research and data from the pesticide industry itself shows that glyphosate pesticides can cause harm to humans and the environment. This should lead to their ban under EU law. Yet the EFSA, the ECHA and the European Commission persist in downplaying these facts,” Lyssimachou claimed.

The formal process of challenging the approval of glyphosate, if successful, would last approximately two years.

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Assuming the weather holds, the first of this year’s winter barley crops will be combined within the next fortnight.

This was the view expressed by many tillage industry representatives attending the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine cereal trials open day, held at Ballyderown farm in Co. Cork this week.

It won’t be a record year in terms of the yields delivered. But, relative to the prospects held out for many of these crops a few short weeks ago, expectations are now high that the 2024 harvest will get off to a positive enough start.

And many winter wheat crops have also fared extremely well over recent weeks. Admittedly, in those locations where plant numbers failed to survive last winter’s atrocious weather conditions, the potential to produce a yield of any description remains at zero.

However, in places where plants managed to hang on, their subsequent ability to tiller out has been noted with the result that many crops which seemed to be struggling back in February, really did turn the corner with the advent of the drier and warmer conditions that have characterised the latter part of April, all of May and June.

It is also evident that a significant number of growers, dissatisfied with their initial winter wheat crops, started again at ground zero. Option number two was to push ahead with spring wheat.

And despite the extra costs incurred, many farmers are indicating that they made the right decision.      

Meanwhile, there remains a lot of field work to be carried out, where crops of spring barley are concerned.

Again the recent weeks of dry weather and encouraging temperatures have delivered sustainable crop responses.

The issues of trace element deficiencies, specifically manganese and magnesium, flagged up by Teagasc, have been addressed by most growers.

It is now a case of getting a final fungicide spray on to crops of spring barley, oats and wheat. Thereafter, it is up to the weather when it comes to determining final yields.

The open day also provides an opportunity for DAFM to profile the certification seed area, in percentage terms, for the various cereal varieties. And the 2024 results do not throw up any great surprises.

For winter wheat, Graham remains the big player, coming in 45%. This is followed by KWS Dawsum at 26% with Champion counting for 20%. So, three varieties account for 91% of the certified area.

Where winter barley is concerned, KWS Tardis accounts for 36% of the certified area. Orcade comes in second with a figure of 18% followed by KWS Joyau at 14%.

In the winter oats category, three varieties only are listed: Husky (71%); WPB Isabel (17%); and WPB Enya  (12%).

Spring barley varieties in certification this year are much more numerous with Geraldine and Mermaid leading the way, accounting for 21% and 14% of the registered area respectively.

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Irish Grain Growers Group (IGGG) chairman, Bobby Miller is calling for an industry-wide response to the Food Vision Tillage Group report.

Among the recommendations in the report was a proposal for an “income stabilisation scheme”.

The proposed income stabilisation scheme would mirror similar support measures currently operating in the United States.

Speaking about progress regarding the Food Vision Tillage Group and its final report, Miller told Agriland: “This valuable work must not be allowed to gather dust. It is incumbent on all stakeholders to act as quickly as possible.”

Miller attended the attended the 2024 Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) cereal variety trials open day, held earlier this week in Co. Cork.

He confirmed that the members of Food Vision Tillage Group had met on 12 occasions up to this point, but no date has been forthcoming, as yet, with regard to a follow-up meeting of the stakeholders involved.

Food Vision Tillage Group report

The final version of the Food Vision Tillage Group report was published a number of weeks ago and contains 28 action points.

“There is a tremendous onus for government to deliver its response to the report,” Miller added.

The IGGG representative also outlined that he is conscious that Budget 2025 is only a few weeks away and the needs of the tillage sector being recognised in this context is also significant.

“We are in a form of limbo situation at the present time. The ‘Vision report’ was launched a couple of months ago. To date, we have heard nothing back from government in terms of its response to the document.

“I do believe that Department of Agriculture staff are working on the report. But we need to know now where the agriculture minister is going on this issue.

“The last thing we want is for nothing to happen. A lot of effort was put into the work of the Vision group,” Miller added.

Future for tillage

Miller stressed that the work of the Food Vision Tillage Group goes beyond the sole responsibility of the government.

He has called on all the stakeholders involved to come forward with their own plans on how best to met the growth and development needs of the tillage sector into the future. 

IGGG’s chairman believes that an early general election might well impact on the timing of a government response to the tillage industry.

“The next big issue on the horizon is the 2025 Budget,” he stressed.

“We want to see something very positive coming out from government on behalf of the tillage sector at that stage.

“July is almost with us. There is now a very short window for the entre tillage sector to come together and prepare a pre-Budget submission.”

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Teagasc is seeking tenders for the development of a framework to define crop specific rules that support integrated pest management (IPM) practices within EU crop production.

The two-year contract for the development framework will cost an estimated €100,000, excluding VAT.

IPM emphasises the growth of a healthy crop with the least possible disruption to agro-ecosystems and encourages natural pest control mechanisms.

Since January 1, 2014, anyone using plant protection products must adhere to the principles of IPM.

The principles do not require that pesticides should not be used, but rather that alternative options of disease control be considered and used where appropriate.

The prevention of harmful organisms should be achieved through a number of measures, such as crop rotation.

Other measures include: Using adequate cultivation techniques; using resistant or tolerant cultivars and standard or certified seed and planting material; and using balanced fertilisation, liming and irrigation or drainage practices.

Anti-resistance strategies to maintain the effectiveness of products should be used and the use of pesticides that are as specific as possible for the target pest are preferred.

The deadline for receipt of tenders for the specific framework is 5:00p.m on July 4.

Tenders

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is also currently inviting tenders for a feed analysis service.

The department is planning the development of the service as an official control laboratory for the control of animal feedingstuffs to search for the presence of constituents of animal origin.

The two-year contract is expected to cost €500,000, excluding VAT with a best price-quality ratio.

The deadline for the receipt of tenders for the project is 5:00p.m on July 15, 2024.

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Work on a pre-Budget 2025 submission regarding tillage is well advanced on the part of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) National Grain Committee.

 This has been confirmed by the group’s chair, Kieran McEvoy.

He attended this week’s 2024 Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) cereal variety trials open day in Co. Cork.

McEvoy has welcomed the €100/ha support commitment already made by agriculture minister, Charlie McConalogue, for tillage farmers in 2024.

“But we need to see a five-year, strategic commitment on the part of government to tillage farmers. And this must be underpinned by an additional €250/ha support payment throughout the period,” he stressed.

According to McEvoy, Ireland’s tillage sector needs the full backing of government into the future.

“The projected 400,000ha footprint of the tillage sector remains a viable target. We did see some slippage in the area planted out this year. But, thankfully, it wasn’t as great as we thought it might be,” he continued.

“Every time we see 3-4% less cereals in the ground, this results in a lot of tillage farmers becoming unviable; their scale of operation is becoming smaller.

“A lot of tillage farmers depend on rented land to make their businesses viable.”

Tillage

McEvoy acknowledged that significant acreages of maize and fodder beet have been planted out this year.

“And I hope this works out for the farmers involved,” he commented.

“These crops add to the rotations followed on tillage farms. And obviously, it’s important that they also add to the profitability of these businesses as well.

“It’s important that more alliances are built between farmers rather than having friction between the different sectors.”

McEvoy also recognised the need for those growers committing to maize and beet to get their crops successfully harvested later in the year.

“The last thing we need is for the push towards forage crops to be a one year wonder,” he said.

“A late harvest or a sudden burst of grass growth at the back end can make maize and beet seem like very expensive crops.”

Current estimates are pointing to a 50%, or more, increase in the area of forage maize established across the island of Ireland, year-on-year.

No figures are available, as yet, for fodder beet. But here, again, the cropping area is thought to be well up on 2023.

As is always the case, weather will be the big factor in determining the harvest dates for forage crops.

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The Irish Seed Trade Association (ISTA) is forecasting that there will be no shortage in spring barley seed produced by Irish growers for the 2025 season.

This was a key message delivered by the organisation’s vice-president, Fred Lynch at the 2024 Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) cereal variety trials open day this week.

The event, which was organised in association with ISTA, was held at Ballyderown Farm, near Kilworth in Co. Cork.

“This projection is based on the state of crops in the fields right now. And, obviously, a lot can happen between now and harvest,” Lynch continued.

“But, assuming, we get decent weather over the coming weeks, there will be enough indigenous supplies of spring barley seed to meet the needs of Irish growers next year.”

Spring barley seed planting was late

Meanwhile DAFM is confirming that Ireland’s tillage area in 2024 is on a par with that of last year. This is despite a significant fall-off in the area of winter cereals sown out last back end.

DAFM’s head of division for crop policy, evaluation and certification, Barry O’Reilly, spoke at the variety trials open day.

He confirmed that the prolonged period of very wet weather since last summer resulted in significant challenges for tillage farmers in getting crops harvested for the 2024 harvest.

“The area of winter cereal crops is approximately 70% of the five-year average, taking account of the period 2019 to 2023,” he said.

“Most planting of spring cereals took place later than normal. This follows what was a very challenging year for growers in 2023.

“Despite these challenges, the overall area of dedicated to crop production has remained relatively stable. This is a testament to the commitment and resilience of growers and of the entire tillage sector,” he added.

Food and feed security

According to O’Reilly, the tillage sector is an important and integral component of Ireland’s agri-food industry.

“A vibrant and sustainable tillage sector is important in increasing food and feed security while also contributing to our climate change objectives,” he continued.

“The Food Vision Tillage Group was established last year to set a roadmap for the sustainable growth and development of the sector to 400,000ha by 2030.

“The recently published final report of the group highlights the critically important role of new and improved crop varieties in increasing the competitiveness of growers.

“It also confirms the important work being carried out by the seed industry and DAFM in ensuring that the highest quality seed of these new and improved varieties are made available to Irish farmers.”   

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Met Éireann has issued an advisory for potato blight, which is in effect until Friday (June 28).

The yellow level advisory was issued this afternoon (Tuesday, June 25) and it relates specifically to Thursday (June 27) and Friday of this week.

The affected regions are counties Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo. The advisory is set to expire at 1:00p.m.

In its latest farming commentary, issued today, Met Éireann said that, on Thursday and Friday, weather conditions conductive to the spread of potato blight will develop at times in parts of the west and northwest.

The national forecaster said that there will be opportunities for spraying later today and tomorrow (Wednesday, June 26).

Potato blight

The Met Éireann blight season began on May 1.

Potato blight is caused by a fungal-like organism called Phytophthora infestans.

The pathogen thrives in humid weather spreading rapidly on the foliage of potatoes and tomatoes, causing the leaves to decay and the crop to become infected.

Continued wet conditions need to be combined with temperatures above 10° consistently in order for blight to develop, according to Met Éireann agricultural meteorologist Padraig Flattery.

There is still no means of eradicating an outbreak of blight in a potato crop, meaning that prevention is key.

Met Éireann farming commentary

Elsewhere in its farming commentary, Met Éireann said that drying conditions will be limited this week due to mixed conditions.

The best of the drying conditions appear to be tomorrow away from Atlantic coastal counties, before rain moves in later.

In terms of field conditions, soils are dry at the moment with some restriction to growth. Soil moisture deficits (SMDs) across all soil types are ranging from between 10mm to 25mm in the northwest and southeast to around 60mm in the east where growth is increasingly restricted.

With rain and showers at times over the week, SMDs across all soil types will vary at times but, overall, little change is expected for most, although a decrease of 5mm to 10mm is likely for parts of the northwest.

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Potato growers have been reminded that the use of fungicides is not the only weapon in their armoury when it comes to preventing blight.

Integrated pest management (IPM) techniques can also be extremely important in this context.

Put simply, IPM is a coordinated and planned strategy for the prevention, detection and control of pests, weeds, and diseases.

The continuing loss of plant protection products and rising levels of disease resistance means that the conventional crop protection toolbox is shrinking.

The role of IPM within the potato sector was specifically highlighted at a recent blight workshop, hosted by the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) and Teagasc in Co. Down.

CAFRE senior crops advisor, Robin Bolton, confirmed that growers must start by selecting seed of the highest quality, adding:

“Growers will have little choice in the varieties they grow, given that markets are very specific in relation to the types of potatoes that are required.

“However, seed is an entirely different matter. Growers should hot-box a selection of seed prior to planting. This will allow them to ascertain specific disease pressures that may arise prior to planting. They can then plan accordingly.”

“All equipment used in the grading and planting processes must be meticulously cleaned on a regular basis so as to maximise the levels of disease control they can achieve.”

According to Bolton, farmers should specifically select the fields they choose to grow potatoes in.

“Locations close to potato dumps should be avoided. It is also important to spray dumps off with an effective herbicide. They should also be covered to absolutely minimise the risk of blight disease spread.

“Fields close to allotments should also be avoided from a commercial potato growing perspective. Growers should also check neighbouring fields for the presence of volunteer potatoes.”

According to Bolton, growers should avoid planting potatoes close to telegraph poles or other areas within a field that cannot be sprayed effectively.

He also highlighted the absolute importance of sprayer maintenance, adding:

“All the component part of the sprayer should be regularly checked, including pumps and nozzles. The boom should be retained 50cms above the crop being sprayed – this minimises drift.

“Where potatoes are concerned, the spray should be directed to all relevant parts of the crop, including the plant stems, and nozzles should be selected with this requirement in mind.”

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Many farmers across the country are indicating that maize crops have been particularly slow in pushing forward this year.

A case in point, is the fact that young seedlings have found it difficult to break through the plastic films, and even those crops that have emerged are a very pale yellow colour.

It is thought this is a direct result of the low temperatures that have been a feature of the Irish weather over recent weeks.

The unseasonably cold conditions followed on from what were quite late planting dates for many forage maize crops in 2024.

All of this now poses the question – will maize crops have the opportunity to reach full maturity this year?

The starch content of maize silages is directly determined by the number of mature cobs produced per plant.

The other issue coming into play is the harvest date, which maize growers can now target. A poor start to crop development may well push harvest dates back into the latter part of the autumn.

This brings with it the distinct possibility of poorer ground conditions and precarious sowing dates for tillage farmers wishing to get subsequent winter cereals into the ground.

Maize crops

Heat units are the driving force for all maize crops. So, the prospect of significantly higher temperatures impacting across Ireland over the coming days will be welcome news for growers.

It has been estimated that Ireland’s maize acreage has almost doubled, year-on-year. Maize has a lot to offer both Ireland’s tillage and livestock sectors.

Up to 5,000g of slurry can be applied per acre to land dedicated for maize production. Chemical nitrogen (N) can be added, if required, in line with all relevant nitrates regulations.

However, once a crop has been planted, it’s a case of closing the gate and not coming back until harvest time, for the most part.

Maize crops grown in coastal some areas are subject to Eye Spot infections. This is quite easily controlled with a relevant fungicide, once crops have reached knee height.

Copper and manganese deficiencies can be an issue within maize crops growing in some locations. However, the foliar-based products required to correct this situation are relatively cheap.

Last winter saw many livestock farmers, almost, running out of silage. Forage maize is regarded by a growing number of farmers as an extremely versatile and effective way of replenishing these stocks.

But, progress to this end will be critically dependent on the weather over the coming weeks.

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The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is reminding organic farmers about their obligations when it comes to seed.

In an email to the Irish Organic Association (IOA) and the Organic Trust, the department advised organic farmers that the trading or exchange of uncertified seed in any form is illegal.

DAFM said that growers should be made aware that “certified organic” does not equate to “certified seed”.

Similar to other farmers, organic farmers should only purchase certified seed.

In Ireland, certified seed has completed the department’s certification process to attain regulatory and voluntary higher standards and can be legally sold or traded under EU legislation.

The department said that certified seed will “always be sealed and have an official label from the certifying authority”.

DAFM

The email outlined that organic farmers may use farm saved (uncertified) seed produced on their own holding once it is declared to the Plant Variety Development Office (PVDO) and the required royalty paid.

By law, farmers are obliged to pay royalties on farm saved seed which is then invested in plant breeding to allow for higher yielding, resilient and more disease resistant varieties.

Farmers must self declare the use of farm saved seed for winter sown crops by January 31 and spring sown by June 30 each year.

The PVDO said that payment rates are agreed to “strike a balance between farmers’ long standing tradition of saving seed, and the contribution of modern plant breeding to the significant genetic gains enjoyed by growers”.

Crops covered by the royalty collection scheme include non-hybrid varieties of wheat; barley; oats; oilseed rape; linseed; triticale; field peas; field beans; yellow lupins and spelt.

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The Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) is pointing to a projected downturn in some global grain output trends.

This follows that the releases by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its June World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE).

For wheat, Russia’s production was cut considerably, which, as well as cuts across Ukraine and Europe, has consequently tightened the global 2024/25 balance.

There was some tightening to the global 2024/25 maize balance too, both compared to 2023/24 and last month.

However, 2023/24 production figures for Brazil and Argentina were unchanged, opposing the average analyst expectation of a downward revision for both regions.

Global soybean ending stocks for 2023/24 remain the second highest on record (behind 2018/19), despite a marginal cut to Brazilian production.

However, this could become the third highest should the projected 2024/25 ending stocks be achieved.

Wheat

Globally, the wheat outlook is reported to have a tighter balance next year (2024/25), largely as a result of the smaller supply.

Wheat production in Russia, Ukraine, and the EU has been reduced, outweighing the modest increase in global opening stockings.

The hot and dry weather followed by the frosts during May in Russia resulted in the wheat crop being cut from 88.0 Mt in May to 83.0 Mt.

This aligns more closely with recent forecasts from Russia’s Institute of Agricultural Market Studies (IKAR) and SovEcon of 81.5 Mt and 80.7 Mt respectively.

Despite a modest rise of production in the US (+0.5 Mt) and a decrease in global feed demand, the substantial drop of production across key producing regions tightens the projected global wheat balance for 2024/25.

Maize

For the 2023/24 Brazilian crop, the average analyst expectation for maize production ahead of the WASDE report being released was a reduction of 1.1 Mt (London Stock Exchange Group).

Meanwhile, for Argentina average expectation was for a 2.1 Mt cut.

However, in contrast to average analyst expectations, there was no change on the month regarding the ongoing 2023/24 maize harvests in Brazil and Argentina.

As a result, total maize exports rose following slight increases for Russia and South Africa and edged global end of season stocks lower.

Looking ahead to 2024/25, global maize production is projected to be relatively unchanged on the month.

However, the slightly lower opening stocks and an increase to imports tightens ending stocks to closely align with the average analyst estimate.

Soybeans

Although, on average, analysts expected Brazil’s 2023/24 soybean production estimate to fall to 151.8 Mt, the USDA has only only cut production by 1.0 Mt to 153.0 Mt.

For Argentina, 2023/24 production was left unchanged on the month at 50.0 Mt, which closely aligns with the average analyst estimate and the latest Buenos Aires exchange estimate of 50.5 Mt.

As a result, world ending stocks remain the second highest ever at 111.1 Mt.

For 2024/25, estimates remained relatively unchanged on the month. World ending stocks are forecasted at 128.5 Mt which, if achieved, would be the largest ending stocks on record.

This is largely supported by Brazil’s projected record crop of 169.0 Mt.

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Met Éireann has today (Wednesday, June 19) issued a Status Yellow advisory for potato blight in several counties over the coming days.

Weather conditions conducive to spread of blight are expected to develop in counties Donegal; Mayo; Galway and Kerry from early on Friday persisting through to Saturday morning.

The national meteorological service said that there are opportunities for spraying today.

Potato blight

Copa Cogeca, the umbrella group of European Union (EU) farm organisations, previously said that a “European action plan to combat late blight in potatoes is needed”.

It has said the annual economic damage in the EU from potato blight is estimated at around €900 million.

The blight causing pathogen, Phytophthora infestans, infects both the foliage and tubers of potato plants and can devastate the entire crop within just one or two weeks.

This pathogen is highly adaptive, and recent developments show that it is evolving more complex virulence spectra, enabling it to overcome an increasing number of resistance genes.

Teagasc is also urging all Irish potato growers to fundamentally change their potato blight spraying programmes with immediate effect.

This reflects the growing influence of resistant blight populations, both in Ireland and across Europe.

Dr. Steven Kildea, Teagasc potato specialist, said that blight populations are evolving at a faster rate than ever.

As a result, he said that “the days of block spraying for blight are over”, adding that crops should be sprayed at seven-day intervals.

“The future will be shaped around a strategy of mixing two different blight chemistries in the one tank and ensuring that modes of action, where blight fungicides are concerned, are changed in sequential spray applications,” he said.

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Teagasc is urging all Irish potato growers to fundamentally change their potato blight spraying programmes with immediate effect.

This reflects the growing influence of resistant blight populations, both in Ireland and across Europe.

“The days of block spraying for blight are over,” stressed Teagasc potato specialist Dr. Steven Kildea.

Kildea spoke at a blight workshop, held in Co. Down this week. The event had been organised by College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) in association with Teagasc.

“The future will be shaped around a strategy of mixing two different blight chemistries in the one tank and ensuring that modes of action, where blight fungicides are concerned, are changed in sequential spray applications,” he said.

“Crops should also be sprayed at seven-day intervals. And once a season-long spray programme has been agreed, it should be rigidly adhered to.”

Kildea confirmed that blight populations are evolving at a faster rate than ever, with resistance to available fungicides now an issue of major concern for the potato industry across Ireland and the rest of Europe.

Adding to industry concerns is the fact that a number of blight products have been taken off the market over recent years.

“It’s a case now of ensuring that the fungicide chemistries remaining are used in the most effective way possible, while also ensuring the threat of further mutation amongst blight populations are minimised,” he continued.

“This is why potato growers must move away from the sequential use of the same blight chemistries.

“Mixing and alternating is the way forward. It’s an approach that will also require the full use of all the blight chemistries that are currently available,” he added.

Potato blight control

The Teagasc representative admitted that the new approach to blight control, will add significantly to the costs incurred by potato growers.

“But it’s a price worth paying,” he said. “The alternative is to have blight significantly crops on potato crops now and into the future.

“Preventing blight from gaining a foothold within a potato crop will always be the most effective management option available to growers.

“In truth, we have been very lucky maintaining the efficacy of many blight prevention chemistries on the basis of single product applications up to this point.”

Kildea also highlighted the integrated pest control (IPM) options available to potato growers when it comes to managing potato crops.

One of these centres on not planting potatoes in areas of fields most prone to blight attack.

“Why plant potatoes under trees or adjacent to telegraph poles? It is widely accepted that tree cover promotes the growing conditions enjoyed by blight while growers cannot spray crops growing close to telegraph poles and other filed obstructions effectively,” he said.

Potato crops grown in Holland last year were badly impacted by a new EU43 blight strain, isolates of which were also identified at Teagasc Oak Park, Co. Carlow late in the season.

“We have the means to control the various strains of blight currently impacting on potato crops. But making this happen will require growers to fundamentally change their blight spraying programmes. And the clock is ticking,” Kildea concluded.

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Teagasc has confirmed a slowdown in the development of many spring barley crops, with soil compaction being the main culprit.

The key symptom to look out for is a distinct yellowing of fields.

The soil compaction challenge is a direct consequence of the very difficult spring weather conditions.  

While the soil surface was dry and fields were fit to roll post-sowing throughout late April and May, there was an underlying dampness that has led to some compaction issues. 

The symptoms are usually yellowing of the crop, as a result of restricted root growth and reduced nutrient uptake.

It is important that the crop receives its major and micro nutrient requirements, but excess nitrogen (N) or additions of micro nutrients will not alleviate the crop stress. Remedial action will come post-harvest.

Other issues adding to the compaction challenge include Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV), leaf scorch from herbicide and fungicide application.

Disease levels are low at the present time except within crops of RGT Planet, where net blotch remains challenging.

Attention will now turn to the awn emergence fungicide requirement of spring barley, where Ramularia will be the target for all varieties. 

Meanwhile, spring wheat and oats are growing well at the moment. Most crops have received a plant growth regulator (PGR) at this stage.

Disease levels are generally low, although yellow rust is visible in some spring wheat crops. Mildew levels are also generally low. But growers need to keep an eye on it over the coming weeks.

Ramularia

According to Teagasc, Ramularia in winter barley is now starting to show up, especially where BYDV had been an issue.

Plants that were affected by BYDV are showing more noticeable signs of disease on awns and flag leaves.

Previously,  yield differences of anything up to 3.5-4.0t/ha have been identified, depending on the level of BYDV in winter barley crop.

While Teagasc tillage specialists don’t expect the same level of yield reduction in spring barley, growers should still be aware that crops may also be affected, given the level of BYDV confirmed in 2024 spring crops .

Folpet in the form of Arizona, Mirror etc. plus an Azole mix, e.g. MacFare Xpro, Balaya + Imperis, should give the best control of Ramularia and other diseases.

Winter wheat

Most October-drilled winter wheat crops are now at the end of flowering and have received their head fungicide.

However, November drilled crops are in mid flowering at the moment and the final fungicide is now due. Options here include Prosaro/Jade at 1.0L/ha.

The post Tillage: Spring barley crops hit bump in the road appeared first on Agriland.ie.

The option of whole cropping winter barley, but more likely, winter wheat, may well be a thought in many tillage farmers’ minds right now.

Given the backdrop of Irish agriculture coming out of the 2023/24 feeding season with almost zero silage stocks, the demand from dairy and beef farmers for what is a high value winter forage, will be strong over the coming months.

While many winter cereals have been transformed by the recent few weeks of decent weather, there remains another cohort of crops that never really recovered from the absolute pounding they took last autumn and winter.

Individual growers can decide on how best to manage their individual crops. But, if whole cropping is deemed to be the best option, then the time to put the required plans in place is right now.

For whole crop silages to deliver the highest levels of nutritional value, they must be put in the clamp when the grains are at the ‘soft dough’ stage.

Meanwhile, winter wheat crops in the south Co. Antrim area, which received their recommended fungicide spray programmes, are looking particularly healthy at the present.

Many are disease-free, a direct result of the recent dry spell of weather.

However, the lack of opportunity to get herbicide programmes implemented in any meaningful way last autumn is reflected in the high levels of grass weeds now visible in many crops.

The presence of Italian ryegrass, bromes and blackgrass is evident across a number of locations.

Traditionally, barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) is not a major challenge for tillage farmers in Northern Ireland.

The one exception to this rule-of-thumb would be parts of east Co. Down. This seems to be the reality, once again, in 2024.

Spring barley

Spring barley crops are fast turning out to be a success story for tillage farmers across the island of Ireland.

Although planted late, in many cases, the recent dry and cool conditions have encouraged the controlled growth of these crops.

The dry conditions of the past six weeks has encouraged growth rates within crops planted under plastic.

Current estimates are pointing to a 50% plus increase in the area of maize established this year, relative to 2023.

Moreover, there is now growing optimism that, given decent weather conditions over the coming weeks, many maize crops will be harvested before the end of September.

Such a reality would allow many tillage farmers to get their crop rotations back on track.

The post Time to make a decision on combining or whole cropping appeared first on Agriland.ie.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has revealed that the price of outputs for potato farmers have increased by 73.6% over the 12 months to April 2024.

The CSO also detailed that “the most significant” decreases in the prices paid to farmers for their produce in the 12 months to April 2024 was recorded in industrial and forage crops which dropped by 26.4% and in relation to pigs which declined by 6.2%.

While increases were recorded for output prices for potato growers, they were also seen for vegetables, which rose by 11.7%.

Dairy farmers saw the price paid for milk supplied rise by 2.4%, while egg suppliers saw prices for their produce fall by 3.7%.

On the input side, the CSO stated that the price of fertilisers has fallen by 31.4% in the year to April, while the price of motor fuels has increased by 10.1%. 

On the output side, the price of cereals (including seeds) has fallen by 31.4% in the year to April 2024, while there have been sharp increases in the prices of sheep, which are up by 27.1%.

In the 12 months to April 2024, the agricultural input price index dropped by 12.6%, while the agricultural output price index was down by 0.2% over the same period.

On a monthly basis, the agricultural output price index for April 2024 rose by 0.5% when compared with March 2024.

The agricultural input price index for April 2024 decreased by 0.2% when compared with March 2024.

Over the 12 months to April 2024, there were significant reductions in the input prices recorded for electricity which dropped by 22.2%, and feed which declined by 16.8%.

The monthly terms of trade increased by 0.7% in April 2024 when compared with the previous month, while the annual terms of trade rose by 14.2% when compared with April 2023.

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The Potash Development Association (PDA) has published a newsletter highlighting the nutritional requirements of winter cover crops and herbal leys.

These land use options have been profiled in terms of their ability to improve soil fertility.

While this may be true for nitrogen (N), due to the proportion of legumes in the mix, this will not be the case for phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulphur (S).

Clover can require significant amounts of P due to the role this nutrient plays in root development, nutrient uptake and growth.

Furthermore, as P is a vital component of the ‘energy compounds’ within a plant, and as the fixation of atmospheric N is an energy hungry process, its efficiency is heavily reliant on plants having access to sufficient levels of phosphate.

Potash is very important in the microbiological fixation of N by root nodules in legumes, therefore is also an important nutrient for herbal leys, especially those which contain a large proportion of legumes.

Clover, along with all legumes, also has a higher requirement for sulphur (S) than grass.

Farming in an insecticide-free world

The move towards ‘regenerative agriculture’ over the last few years has driven interest in reducing or eliminating the use of insecticides on farm.

While clearly it would be hoped that these chemical solutions are only ever used appropriately, through monitoring pest thresholds where possible, just stopping using these products without making any additional changes could be a recipe for disaster.

Many virus diseases in the UK and Ireland affect different crops through transmission by specific aphid species.

Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), for example, can often have significant economic impacts. Although not all aphids carry the viruses.

However, even within scenarios where disease is not the issue, aphids can also cause wilting, distortion, or stunting of plant shoots.

The role of K in mitigating crop damage due to insects is complex. The element plays an important physiological role including build-up of resistance to insect pests.

Adequate amounts of K have been reported to decrease the incidence of insect damage considerably.

For example, plants well supplied with nitrogen and insufficient K have soft tissue with little resistance to sucking and chewing pests.

Adequate levels of K in plants leads to a reduction in free sugars, lowering the likelihood of attracting insect pests, whilst the tissue yellowing symptoms of K deficiency acts as a signal to attract aphids.

In addition, a sufficient K supply tends to harden plant structures, strengthening cell walls, leading to thicker and harder stems and leaves.

This hardening of plant structures improves mechanical resistance to feeding of insects especially sucking insects such as aphids.

Independent studies also suggest that K also has a negative impact on the growth and development of sucking pests.

The post Delivering adequate potash to winter cover crops is crucial – PDA appeared first on Agriland.ie.

A farmer in the Netherlands has developed a sustainable business model based making efficient use of natural resources while growing crops.

Ekoto is an organic farm in the south of the Netherlands. On 7ha of land, the farm grows arable crops, including over 30 different types of vegetables and herbs in strip cropping.

The farm was set up by a young farmer, Ivar van Dorst, in 2020. His motivation was to provide local, organic alternatives to the everyday products, such as tea and beans.

The aim of the farm, van Dorst explained, is to “accelerate the transition to a sustainable and transparent supply chain”.

van Dorst grew up on the family farm, and, as while parents had already left farming, he was well aware of the challenges linked to the profession.

The Dutch farmer said: “I had in mind from the start that I needed to make a living out of the farm, otherwise it would not be sustainable.

“I also needed to find ways to ensure the farm could cope with external variables, such as the changing climate.”

In his first year, in 2020, van Dorst decided to focus on which crops grow best next to each other.

Each year since, he has added other elements; for example, exploring what works financially and how to maintain employment on the farm.

As part of his business model, van Dorst innovates with sales based on customer demand.

He supplies local businesses with products such as vegetable box schemes, providing zero-waste shops, cafés and bakeries with a variety of produce, and he also has a shop and a ‘pick your-own’ service.

System of crops on the farm

The strip-cropping at Ekoto is made up of a rotation of five crops: a cereal crop (mainly oats), a fruit crop (pumpkin), a legume crop to fix nitrogen, several vegetables, and an ‘experimental crop’ as the fifth.

van Dorst and his team apply strip cropping on most of the fields. They test combinations of crops to determine which can be most effective.

For the strips which are 6m wide, to accommodate the 3m-wide machinery, GPS is used to make sure they are in the same place every year.

The strip crop method increases biodiversity, and makes it more difficult for pests and diseases to spread.

This means lower inputs are needed, and creates a healthier environment for the people working on the farm and better products for the consumer.

The fields also have flowering borders, which attract beneficial insects and serve as a buffer against invading snails and slugs.

van Dorst has been experimenting with different varieties of beans, and the combination of the bean crop with yarrow and camomile for tea has proven very successful.

Even though broad beans suffer greatly from aphids, the nearby herbs and flowers attract ladybirds that feast on the aphids and naturally limit the damage to the bean crop.

“Since we moved the herbal strips close to the beans, we have certainly seen an increase in natural enemies and a reduction in crop damage to the beans due to pests,” he said.

As some companies have shown a particular interest in certain ancient bean varieties, the farm is now running a research project with local funding to experiment further with beans as an effective crop for strip-cropping.

They obtained 50 different ancient bean varieties from a seed bank, and are now conducting field trials.

van Dorst and his team would like to take this innovative business model based on strip-cropping further.

“I would really love to continue scaling up the cultivation of beans in Europe, tackling the distribution and business-model side, and promoting beans as a viable crop for
European farmers,” he said.

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Teagasc has confirmed that the challenge of ‘uncontrollable grass weeds’ within crops remains a major challenge for tillage farmers.

This is particularly so, where the use of minimum cultivation techniques, is concerned.

The recent Enable Conservation Tillage (ECT) project was developed to communicate the latest thinking on how these techniques can be applied in ways that respond to the grass weed challenge.

In the past, a number of Irish growers experimented with min-till, direct drill or no till systems, but were unsuccessful.

Many identified the difficulty of controlling of grass weeds as one of the primary reasons for reverting to plough-based systems. The ECT project, however, highlighted a number of monitor farmers, who had successfully made the change.

One of the big take-home messages from the project, was the fact that that the establishment system is only part of the puzzle -more integrated pest management (IPM) tools must be incorporated into the farm system for the practice change to work.

According to Teagasc tillage specialists, good rotations, avoiding compaction, learning from mistakes and reducing grass weed problems through cultural control methods, as well as herbicides, are all important parts of a successful transition.

Blackgrass

Herbicide-resistant blackgrass populations are already creating challenges for Irish tillage farmers.

Experience at Teagasc Oak Park is a;lready confiorming that that blackgrass can become an issue unless growers are vigilant.

In 2020, as part of a plan to increase biodiversity on the farm, wild flower margins were planted. Significantly, the Oak Park farm manager identified blackgrass plants in one field.

A plan was put in place to eliminate the blackgrass. Glyphosate was used to burn off the affected margins, multiple stale seed beds were applied and the margin in question was ultimately planted with grass.

Italian ryegrass

Italian ryegrass is another grass weed that is starting to become an issue on many Irish farms.

The problem can be traced to the autumn of 2018 when tillage farmers were paid to establish forage crops after harvest to produce much need forage for livestock farms.

Some of this Italian ryegrass has now become a problem with many herbicides struggling to control it.

In the summer of 2023 a group of farmers who are participating in a European project called IPMworks visited Denmark where Italian ryegrass has  overtaken blackgrass as the main grass weed problem.

With no herbicide control available, their only option is cultural control methods such as whole crop, land swapping or crop destruction.

The post ‘Uncontrollable’ grass weeds remain major challenge appeared first on Agriland.ie.

A response from the government to the Food Vision Tillage Group Report is now expected in the autumn. It may tie-in with Budget 2025, planned for October.

Such an approach will not go down well with relevant stakeholder organisations, all of which want certainty delivered here and now for those farmers committed to crop production.

The final report of the Food Vision Tillage Group recommended that an immediate financial support package be put in place for the sector for the 2024 growing season.

This was one of 28 recommendations outlined in the report, the finalised version of which was published by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) in May.

According to the report, funding in the order of €60 million/year for five years would be needed to pursue the recommendations in the report and to achieve a target of 400,000ha under tillage by 2030.

A recent episode of the Tillage Edge podcast saw DAFM Minister of State, Martin Heydon, deliver his perspectives on the future of Irish tillage.

Significantly, he confirmed that the industry did have a vibrant future.

The minister’s comments are set against the backdrop of the Irish government committing to secure the expansion of the crops’ sector with the specific figure of 400,000ha contained within Ireland’s current Climate Action Plan.

This represents an approximate 33% increase in the current footprint of the industry.

Heydon has acknowledged that tillage farming has come through a very challenging 18 months.

“There are less tillage farmers in Ireland than would have previously been the case. This reflects the very specialised nature of crop production,” he said.

“However, the 11,000 or so farmers committed to crop production are generating €1.9 billion worth of activity on an annual basis. And this is a very significant figure.”

According to the minister, tillage will play a critical important role as Irish agriculture looks to the future.

“Farming can be compared to a gearbox within which each gear has to work for the entire system to work harmoniously,” he continued.

“So, yes, tillage has a key role to play within the Irish agriculture, interacting with all the other sectors.

“So, for example, livestock producers need the grains and straw produced by those farmers growing crops.”

But, in the view of the junior minister, adding value to the outputs generated by the tillage sector is the real game that is afoot for the industry.

And making this happen will require investment, a process that is already gathering momentum.

Minister Heydon characterised the historical development of towns like Athy as having been developed by businesses that added value to the agricultural produce coming from nearby farms.

And this process is gathering momentum once again. In this context, he specifically referenced the proposed €200 million investment to build a new brewery at Newbridge.

“Boortmalt will also be increasing its level of investment in Athy. A lot of this additional malting capacity will be directed at the new brewery operation. So, this is a perfect example of the kinds of opportunity that will deliver premium returns for Irish grain growers,” Minister Heydon said.

“But government also recognises that tillage farmers are under pressure right now. Any farmer can handle one bad year. But when two come directly following each other, this is the genuinely concerning piece.

“And it’s in this context that government must stand by and do whatever it can.”

Food Vision Tillage Report

The final report from the Food Vision Tillage Group contains 28 recommendations. They comprise a mix of short- and long-term actions that can be delivered for growers.

Significantly, Martin Heydon is reminding farmers that Food Vision 2030 for agriculture as a whole, is a 10-year strategy.

“But it’s not the government’s report,” he stressed.

“It belongs to everyone. There are 31 different stakeholders involved in this process.  It has involved farmers, processers and the environmental sector.

“They are all in the mix together, trying to work out how best we grow the value of our entire farming and food industry. The step change with Food Vision was that of growing value, rather than the quantity.

“Once the overall Food Vision report was agreed, the decision was taken to split the work associated with this ongoing process into the various sectors, tillage being one of these.”

The minister of state characterised the work of the tillage group as a SWOT analysis, looking at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats now evolving within the crops sector.

“The work took specific account of the environmental challenges that confront tillage,” Heydon continued.

“It also looked at possible changes to European Union legislation that is coming down the track. But, at its heart, the work of the group set out to identify how the tillage sector in Ireland can put its best foot forward.”

According to Martin Heydon, the final report from the tillage group represents a very important document. Its recommendations will be thoroughly scrutinised.

“Seven priority areas have been identified,” he commented.

“The short-term element, delivering €100/ha will build on the supports for tillage that are already in place.

“Looking ahead and specifically in the context of the nitrates derogation, we are looking at greater levels of cooperation between dairy and tillage farmers.”

The minister of state acknowledged that the Tillage Incentive Scheme, introduced after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, was not directed at farmers who grew crops.

“The measure targeted those farmers growing grass,” he explained.

“I know the scheme really jarred with tillage farmers when they pointed to its lack of relevance for them. However, the measure did reflect the fact that government wants to grow Ireland’s tillage area.

“We want to grow the tillage area to 400,000ha by 20230. Right now, we are going In the wrong direction.

“This is because of all the challenges that are there and the cost implications. Priority number one is to stabilise the amount of land encompassed by tillage.”

In order to progress the future of the sector, the minister said it would require the implementation of effective policies.

Value of grain

Adding value to Irish grains is one of the key recommendations contained within the tillage report.

It is an aspiration that chimes with Martin Heydon and the government’s perspective on the future of the crops sector.

The minister commented: “From the perspective of Bord Bia developing additional and sustainable sourcing criteria, modules for auditing at feed mills under the Bord Bia quality assurance scheme, through to the work of Teagasc documenting the live cycle assessment of Irish tillage crops, there are lots of things we can do to help further develop the cropping sector.”

Heydon went on to reference adoptions to the AgNav system that can specifically help tillage farmers.

He also acknowledged the need for Irish livestock farmers to recognise the benefits of using home-produced feed.

Contained within each of the tillage report’s recommendations are numerous complementary themes, all of which will be assessed by the government.

“We are making progress on all of the key points. And tillage farmers have to see a financial return for all the different elements that make up their businesses,” Heydon added.

“Given my current ministerial responsibilities, I really see the value of our current quality assurance schemes while on trade missions to different countries.

“To have a nationally-backed quality assurance scheme is a tremendous asset to have. The reality is that many other countries do not have measures of this kind in place.

“All of those markets that will deliver a premium for Irish grains have sustainability as a key priority within their procurement criteria,” he added.

Minister Heydon said that he believes the Irish Grain Assurance Scheme and Bord Bia can liase with the aim of laying out a nationally-backed quality assurance programme for the tillage sector.

The post Govt response to Food Vision Tillage Report expected in autumn appeared first on Agriland.ie.

Teagasc tillage specialist, Shay Phelan has confirmed that some winter barley crops have experienced a degree of lodging with the return of wet and blustery conditions.

Phelan said: “The rain was badly needed. The earliest barleys are about a month off harvest.

“Crops are at their heaviest right now. Over the coming weeks, leaves will start to drop off plants as crops start to mature.”

Turning to spring barley, the Teagasc representative is strongly urging to walk individual fields as a matter of some priority. This reflects the wide breadth of stress factors impacting on crops at the present time  

“Depending on planting date, some crops will require their final fungicide spray over the coming days. This year’s spring barley crops have a wide range with many planted out in late April and into May,” he added.

Significantly, Phelan is not recommending the blanket use of plant growth promoters (PGRs) at this stage.

“Many growers applied a PGR after planting to encourage tillering. However, most spring barleys will have quite a short straw length this year. So the risk of them lodging reduces accordingly.

“The one exception might be spring crops that have very high plant counts.”

Winter barley

Yellowing of spring barley crops has been an issue in many areas of the country. This is particularly so in the case of crops, which were drilled into challenging seed beds.

The tillage specialist explained: “A number of growers will want to apply foliar trace elements to these crops.

“So, it’s a case of ensuring that a high quality product is applied. Single source trace element applications are available. For the most part, they can be easily included within a tank mix.”

Turning to potatoes, Phelan has confirmed Teagasc’s participation in the upcoming potato blight advisory workshops, to be hosted by the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) in Northern Ireland next week.

He will be in attendance at the meeting planned for Limavady on Monday, June 17.

Both events will highlight the challenge of new potato blight variants and the measures that can be taken by growers to deal with this threat.

The workshops aim to update growers on the problem, identify good integrated pest management controls and spray application practices effective in controlling the disease.

Discussion will also centre on the most effective strategies when compiling a fungicide programme to protect against blight and protect the long-term efficacy of blight fungicides.

The post Winter barley crops feel the impact of blustery conditions appeared first on Agriland.ie.

Enhancing the value potential of Irish native grain will be the focus of a new programme by a college in the south-east.

The Southeast Technological University (SETU), in partnership with Teagasc, has launched a postgraduate four-year full-time scholarship.

It is entitled ‘Expanding the Utility of Irish Grains, Bringing Added Value Potential to the Irish Tillage Sector’.

One hopeful student will receive a phD in applied science after they have completed the programme.

This initiative is designed to optimise the Irish pot still whiskey category by utilising native grains, subsequently boosting demand for diverse Irish grains and creating new opportunities for local tillage farmers.

The project will be spearheaded by the enviroCORE research group within the Applied Science faculty.

Irish native grain industry

The Irish distilling industry has experienced significant growth, with the number of Geographical Indication (GI) Irish whiskey distilleries increasing from just four in 2010 to over 42 by 2022.

This scholarship aims to further this growth by exploring new recipes that adhere to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s (DAFM) technical file guidelines for pot still whiskey.

Chair of the Irish Grain Growers’ Group (IGGG), Bobby Miller told Agriland: “It’s a very positive progression in the right direction for the industry.

“It’s good to see the whole programme progressing in a positive manner. It is more than welcome and well overdue to have research work like this going ahead.”

Miller also pointed out the need to revisit the technical guidelines governing the drinks industry to prioritise native grains.

“The technical files in relation to the drinks industry should be revisited by the government and DAFM to put more emphasis on the use of native grains going forward, considering Irish grains’ very low carbon footprint,” he said.

Supervisor of the programme, Lisa Ryan outlined the innovative nature of the project: “The objective of the research project is to optimise heritage and old mash bills, essentially to go back to what was done maybe 100 years ago in terms of the pot still whiskey and how we can make that viable for use today.

“The centre here is the first of its kind in Ireland. It’s a national centre for brewing and distilling.

“We’re catching up in terms of research; there has been very limited research on Irish whiskies, and in particular Irish pot still whiskies,” she said.

The other supervisor on the programme, Dr. Sinead Morris, added: “There is increasing concern due to the limited independent technical expertise available in the country to this growing sector.

“This project’s core objective is to optimise the Irish pot still category, utilising native grains, boosting demand for diverse Irish grain, and creating opportunities for local tillage farmers,” Morris said.

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The Teagasc Environment, Soils and Land Use Research Centre at Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford will host an open day focused on sustainability next month.

The event entitled, ‘Farming for a Better Future 2024’, which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, July 16, was officially launched this week.

The open day will demonstrate technologies and practices for efficient, environmentally sustainable, profitable and more resilient farming systems, and the supports available to implement them.

Johnstown Castle

Teagasc has said that the event aims to build understanding of the environmental challenges faced by the sector and to provide support to farmers.

Attendees will be updated on the latest practices and technologies identified by research, and tested at field and farm system scales.

The event will discuss practical management of dairy systems, the calf-to-beef herd and the new organic beef finishing trial at the Teagasc Johnstown Castle Research Centre.

Teagasc has also encouraged tillage farmers to attend as there will be a focus on soil health, crop nutrition and cover crop establishment and management.

There will be a range of exhibits for farmers to view at the open day covering various topics, including:

• Management of red and white clover and multispecies swards;
• Fertiliser and manure technologies;
• Better farming for water: 8 actions for change;
• Biodiversity;
• Dairy and dairy-beef systems;
• Teagasc advisory and education;
• Health and safety for sustainable farming.

Launching the open day, Teagasc director Prof. Frank O’Mara said that farmers are being increasingly asked to change and adapt their farming practices to reduce impacts on the natural environment.

“The science underpinning some of these requested changes arises from the research undertaken by Teagasc in the Environment, Soils and Land Use Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, and in its other research centres.

“This open day will bring together all of this available knowledge, with simple practical advice and messages for farmers to consider,” he said.

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Agritechnica 2023 saw New Holland launch its new flagship CR11 combine harvester which has now been joined by a slightly smaller CR10 companion model.

The company claims that both harvesters – built at its factory in Zedelgem, Belgium – feature innovative new technology designed to help the large farming enterprises maximise output, minimise losses and reduce total cost of harvesting.

The primary difference between the two models is in power and grain tank size, to ensure the new combines match the needs of a broad range of large farm enterprises.

The CR11 features a 20,000L grain tank and a 15.9L FPT Cursor 16 engine producing 775hp, while the CR10 engine is a 12.9L FPT Cursor 13 generating 635hp, and its grain tank holds 16,000L.

Beyond additional power and grain capacity, the key features that take these combines into a new league in terms of output, sample quality and loss minimisation include longer twin rotors and the new Twin-Clean cleaning system.

High capacity built in

These new flagship CR combines are designed to handle greater volumes of crop all the way through the threshing operation.

Cutterbar widths of 10.6-15m (35-50ft) are available in fixed, flexible knife, movable knife and draper formats.

Feeder/header reversing is achieved via with a hydraulic motor on the fixed speed driveline, and with the CVT drive on the variable speed driveline.

New Holland was the first to launch a combine featuring two longitudinal rotors at its heart, pioneering its Twin Rotor threshing and separation technology almost 50 years ago, in 1975.

In the new CR10 and CR11, the two 600mm (24″) rotors are of increased diameter and length, providing greater capacity for the crop to circulate and the grain be be threshed and separated.

Unloading at 210L/second

The CR11 grain tank holds 20,000L, with an unloading rate of 210L/sec, while the CR10 tank holds 16,000L and has a 159L/sec unloading rate.

Cross-auger shut-off allows the unloading auger to be fully emptied even when the grain tank still holds grain.

The CR10 cab, which sits beneath new roof styling, has a 25L handwash tank with integrated soap dispenser located by its access steps.

Other changes include new-style brake pedals and foot pegs, a luxury steering wheel and premium cloth or leather seats, plus new multi-zone climate control with floor level air ducts.

A new bluetooth radio allows operation of the radio and a mobile phone via the radio control panel in the roof liner, or one of the IntelliView 12 touchscreens.

Precision Land Management

A Core PLM Intelligence package covers the most commonly-specified requirements, such as IntelliSense, where automatic adjustments occur according to the harvest strategy chosen by the operator.

The second option is an Advanced PLM Intelligence bundle, aimed at those with more advanced requirements.

Correction signal packages for IntelliSteer automated steering and other functions such as yield and moisture mapping are available from the factory in two accuracy levels with three delivery options.

Tracks or wheels on CR10

The CR10 and CR11 feature a two-speed hydrostatic transmission and TerraLock semi-automatic diff lock which is engaged manually and disengaged automatically depending on steering angle and forward speed.

Models specified with SmartTrax are available with three track belt width options of 660mm/26″, 810mm/32″ and 910mm/36″, with rubber or hydraulic cushioning.

All drives are taken via a transmission connected directly to the rear of the engine, minimising power loss.

The engine oil filter is sited on the engine’s right, for easy accessibility, while the air filter is located conveniently at the left side of the combine frame, and can be removed while at ground level.

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Tirlán will host a ‘Farming for the Future’ farm walk and talk in Co. Wicklow next Friday, June 21, with a particular focus on protecting and improving water quality.

All farmers have been encouraged by the processor to join the event which will take place on Donal Kavanagh’s farm at The Oaks, Carrigeen, Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow, W91 YD25, at 11:00a.m.

The walk will focus on activity undertaken on the farm through the Tirlán Teagasc Future Farm Programme and practical tips and best advice for protecting and improving water quality, the host farmer said.

The event is open to all farmers, with a focus on Tirlán dairy and grain suppliers, and will include an opportunity to engage directly with business leaders and sustainability programme leads.

A panel discussion will also take place with industry leaders, including Teagasc director, Dr. Frank O’Mara, and chief inspector at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Bill Callanan.

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), the president of the Irish Creamery and Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) Denis Drennan, and Mary Gurrie from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will also feature in the panel discussion.

The open event organised by Tirlán will include:

• Practical steps to improve water quality, nutrient use efficiency and boost on-farm profitability;
• An update on the ‘Future Farm’ performance from Donal Kavanagh;
• News on Tirlán’s new Farm Support Service and River Slaney Project;
• The latest on the nitrates derogation and water quality with speakers from Teagasc, DAFM, IFA, ICMSA, and EPA.

Tirlán chair John Murphy said the event is all about practical steps.

“We want everyone who comes along to take home at least three or four nuggets that they can implement on their own farm to protect water and help strengthen our case as we bid to retain the nitrates derogation,” he said.

Farmers attending the farm walk and talk will also have an opportunity to engage with Tirlán’s teams involved in sustainability initiatives such as:

• Farming for Water River Slaney Project;
• Sustainability Action Payment programme;
• On-farm FarmGen solar programme;
• Twenty20 Beef Club;
• Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP).

“Every little action that we take on farm all adds up. It’s a busy time of the year for everyone but a few hours at a practical farm walk is time well invested,” host farmer Donal Kavanagh said.

The post Tirlán to host farm walk in Wicklow with focus on water quality appeared first on Agriland.ie.

According to Teagasc, a significant number of spring barley crops are looking decidedly yellow in hue at the present time.

So what might be causing this ‘off colour’ effect? Overall, this year’s spring barleys are better than expected considering that the majority of crops were planted after April 20.

Weather conditions have been favourable for crop growth and development.  However ‘off colour’ spring barley is causing concern for some growers this week.

The causes are varied but yellowing and retarded crop growth from soil compaction is very common.

Other issues reported are evidence of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) and leaf scorch from herbicide and fungicide application.

According to Teagasc tillage specialist, Ciaran Collins, temperature drives crop development.

Met Eireann has confirmed that that May 2024 was the warmest May on record, with an average temperature of 13.08°C.

While rainfall in May was below average, crops had enough moisture, and establishment and subsequent crop growth has been excellent.

As a result, many crops have reached target shoot counts and have the potential to reach target yield.

Issues affecting spring barley crops

However, there are a range of issues affecting some crops that will diminish yield. Soil compaction is common across the country. This is hardly surprising considering how wet land was prior to sowing.

While the soil surface was dry and fields were fit to roll post-sowing, there was an underlying dampness that has led to some compaction issues.

According to Collins, spring barley is very sensitive to compaction and more passes over the field will have exacerbated the problem.

The symptoms are usually yellowing of the crop as a result of restricted root growth and reduced nutrient uptake. Headlands and wetter parts of fields are worse affected.

“Test holes should be dug with a spade to investigate location and the extent of the compaction problem,” Collins explained.

“It is important that the crop receives all its major and micro nutrient requirements, but excess nitrogen or additions of micro nutrients will not alleviate the crop stress. Remedial action will come post-harvest.”

The amount of BYDV in crops is also causing concern. It was fully expected that the issue would rear its head in late-sown crops. And so it has turned out to be.

As a consequence, the majority of growers prioritised the application of an insecticide at the 3-4-leaf stage.

But, even with a well-timed insecticide, some BYDV symptoms are inevitable. However, research and experience tells us that this will not have a significant impact on yield and quality.

Rapid growth during the critical period ahead may also reduce the impact. Time will tell if this turns out to be the case.

The post Are your spring barley crops ‘off colour’? appeared first on Agriland.ie.

North Co. Dublin tillage farmer, Ollie Whyte, believes that Irish livestock farmers must be suitably rewarded for using homegrown grains.

Whyte said:

“Recent Johnstown Teagasc research has confirmed that by switching from a standard dairy ration, comprising imported raw materials, to one containing full native grains – the carbon footprint of the milk subsequently produced was reduced by 33%.

“This is a staggering result. Meanwhile, Teagasc, whose brief is to advise farmers on how to reduce their carbon footprint, still does not recommend the use of native grains in feed rations.

“This is despite the organisation’s own research showing that such an approach is complete game changer in terms of the massive reductions in CO₂ emission levels that can be achieved.”

“Our own substantial  beef herd is finished on full native ration and our recorded weight gain is a match for the very best.

“But, when we sell our lower carbon beef, we get the same price as guys that pump unregulated imports with massive CO₂  footprint into their livestock.”

So, all of this begs the question: in what world is this acceptable?

Homegrown grains

According to Whyte, the ‘conspiracy of silence’ around what is fed to Irish livestock and is entering our food chain every day is no longer acceptable.

He continued: “The end result of this is Irish tillage becoming the sacrificial lamb of our agricultural industry.

“Meanwhile, our consumers are effectively deceived. In addition, our authorities have shown by their silence they are happy to go along with this.”

The Co. Dublin tillage farmer pointed to Teagasc research, which indicates that Ireland’s is fast achieving a carbon neutral status.

“What comes off our tillage farms is actually an advertisement agency’s dream in  terms  of climate change , environmental protection, biodiversity enhancement ,food safety and food security.”

“So, why do our agriculture minister, the Department of Agriculture, Bord Bia and Teagasc all refuse to recognise the tillage industry’s  best-in-class credentials?

“They put a label on the food emanating from every other mainstream sector. The exception is the produce off tillage farms, which is already hitting the agricultural emissions targets set for 2050.

“We have to demand a change in thinking on the part of all our authorities and this has to include a the development of proper labels for food that is produced from use of our highly regulated native grain and pulses.

Whyte added that “our grain farmers and our consumers deserve no less”, and that “our consumers have the right to make an informed decision on what they feed their families. Our state authorities have no right to conceal the full information from them”.      

The post Tillage: Making best use of homegrown grains appeared first on Agriland.ie.

Breeding season is well underway with the suckler herd on the Moran Family Farm in Borrisokane, Co. Tipperary.

The farm is involved in ABP Food Group’s sustainability initiative the Advantage Beef Programme and is one of the monitor farms in the sustainability initiative.

Speaking to Agriland, Eoin Moran explained that the stock bull team joined the farm’s suckler herd of approximately 80 cows and heifers on April 25 and breeding is now over 90% complete.

The team of bulls consists of two Charolais and a Limousin bull. Eoin noted that cows were only out to grass approximately three weeks when breeding kicked off and that the breeding season has gone relatively well so far.

Both the stock bulls and this year’s calves were given a multi-vitamin injection and cows were supplemented with a mineral which included selenium, iodine and a small amount of copper through their drinking water for three weeks pre-breeding.

Grazing conditions have improved over the last few weeks and the cows and calves are being moved to fresh paddocks of grass every three to four days.

Surplus paddocks were taken out for silage but Eoin has noted that grass growth rates have “fallen off a cliff” in the past week to 10 days.

He attributes colder conditions and ground damage in sporing to this drop off in grass growth rates.

Under 16-month bulls are currently being fattened indoors and are on a diet of maize, silage and a 13% blend.

The first of the bulls will be fit next week and approximately eight bulls/week will be drafted for slaughter rom now until late July.

He said that bulls have performed impressively and are “doing a great thrive” with an average daily live weight gain (ADG) of 2.5kg/day during the finishing period.

These bulls were finished on a mix of maize silage, beet and 9.5kg of wheat and maize meal as well as 0.5kg/head straw.

The maize silage, sugar beet and soya hulls were mixed in the pit at rate of 30:60:10 and Eoin has said the pit mix “has worked out very well”.

An additive was added at ensiling to inhibit heating. More bulls will be purchased for fattening during the summer months.

The farm purchased store heifers averaging 450kg live weight.

These heifers were vaccinated against blackleg on arrival and were also injected with the same multi-vitamin solution that the breeding bulls got. These will stay at grass until autumn and will be finished for Christmas.

The winter barley on the farm is doing particularly well and has got its last round of fungicide recently.

With improving weather conditions, the winter barley should be fit for harvest sometime in late June/early July and yields are looking promising with 38-40 grains/head which Eoin says “is good compared to other years”.

Eoin also runs a liquid fertiliser business and this crop was treated with 120units of liquid Sulphacan which he says “the crop responded well to”.

20ac of grassland were reseeded about a month ago and has established well. The seed mix included perennial ryegrass, white clover and some red clover too.

On inspection, both the white and red clover were well established alongside the perennial ryegrass in the paddock.

This was top dressed with 70 units/ac of liquid NPK and will be cut for silage in late July. It was also was sprayed last week with clover-friendly herbicide.

The post ABP monitor farm update: Breeding and reseeding in Tipp appeared first on Agriland.ie.

Fieldwork continues apace on all tillage farms. Ground conditions are good and crops are responding well to the improved weather conditions, according to Teagasc.

Specific crops need bespoke management controls at this time of the year.

Chocolate spot is the main disease that affects beans. Some crops may also get downy mildew or bean rust. However, in these circumstances, control options are limited.

The advice is that growers should apply a fungicide at the first signs of disease or, in any case, at the start of flowering and repeat two to three weeks later.

Signum at 0.5-0.75kg/ha can be applied at both timings for good disease control. Elatus Era is also an option and has approval for a single application on beans at 0.66L/ha.

For downy mildew control, basfoliar active and nutriphite PGA, which are biostimulants, both claim some control.

Beans offer growers a good opportunity to control problematic grass weeds such as bromes, ryegrasses and wild oats with graminicide-type herbicides.

Products that can be used in this context include: Fusilade Max (1.0-3.0L/ha); Stratos Ultra (1.5-4.0L/ha); or Falcon (0.7-1.5L/ha). Spraying should take place before flowering has commenced for best control.

Spring oats

Most spring oat crops were drilled in April and these are moving through the growth stages quite quickly. Growth regulation should be used between the second and third node.

Farmers should apply chlormequat chloride (CCC) 750g/L at 1.5-2.0L/ha. Ceraide, meddax max or moddus are also options here.

Where disease is concerned, rusts and mildew require a broad-spectrum fungicide. These include: Elatus Era; cello, or a triazole such as proline plus a strobulurin, e.g., comet.

A specific mildewicide should be included if it is visible in the crop. This should be added to the plant growth regulator at growth stage (GS) 32 to 33.

The final fungicide should be applied when the crop is starting to head out. Options to be followed here are the same as the first spray.

Winter wheat

Septoria is very visible in most winter wheat stands at the present time. However, the infection is reasonably well controlled in crops where the leaf three and flag leaf fungicides were applied on time.

The final fungicide should be applied at the early flowering stage, which is normally three weeks after the flag leaf spray.

Options here include prosaro, jade or protendo extra at 80-100% application rates.

Spring wheat

A plant growth promoter should be applied to spring wheat crops. According to Teagasc, the use of CCC from GS30-31 will deliver maximum effect.

The application rate is dependent on risk of lodging but will generally be in the range CCC 75% 1.0L/ha.

Growers should check product labels for total dose of CCC and/or consider medax max or moddus to GS32 or terpal at GS37-39.

It is important to avoid mepiquat products (terpal) where the straw is destined for the mushroom industry.

Mildew tends to be the biggest threat in spring wheat, although KWS helium and WPB duncan have good resistance.

Septoria is usually less of an issue than in winter wheat.

The post Tillage: Fieldwork gathers pace amid improving ground conditions appeared first on Agriland.ie.

Ireland’s tillage sector has seen a massive contraction in its footprint over the past decades. And the decline continues.

The trials and tribulations generated on the back of the poor weather and equally challenging prices of the past 18 months are symptomatic of this trend.   

However there are still many growers, who believe the industry can be put back on its feet. One of these people is Ollie Whyte, who farms close to Naul in north Co. Dublin.

“The recent Tillage Vision report on this issue had a few good suggestions included. But its conclusions were, at best, just sticking plaster solutions,” he told Agriland.

“They could not in any way be described as game changers for restoring  the tillage sector to its former glory. The underlying emphasis of the vision group was, undoubtedly to relieve the derogation pressure on the dairy sector.

“When we see greater representation of dairy than full-time tillage growers in there, this was more or less the expected result.”

Whyte claimed that the same problem existed in Teagasc and Bord Bia for years when tillage had no board representative and the dairy sector had five or six “steering the ship”.

Tillage sector

“To solve any serious problem, it’s always best to start with the fundamentals,” Whyte continued.

The Dublin tillage farmer believes that poor prices, over decades, have driven the decline witnessed in Irish tillage farming.

He cites current returns at farm level as being the same as those available some 40 years ago. And, according to his calculations, this represents a 12-fold price drop in real terms.

“It’s not difficult to see why there is a problem and why tillage land has moved to other sectors,” he continued.

“So we have to look at why our price has not risen in line with cost increases like every other source of farm produce.

“The answer is very simple – it can be explained by our authorities allowing unfair cheap competition to dominate our feed markets.

“Under European Union and department of agriculture regulations, the environmental goalposts for Irish grain growers have been reduced to eye-of-needle proportions,” he added.

“However, at the same time, third countries outside the European Union, whose produce dominates the feed ration supply in Ireland, have been afforded goalposts the full width of the playing pitch.”

Whyte stated that EU standards do not apply here and has claimed that every tonne of feed that is imported is in breach of European Union production standards .

The post Homegrown grain key to supporting Ireland’s tillage sector – grower appeared first on Agriland.ie.

Grasslands and croplands comprised over 67% of Ireland’s terrestrial and transitional ecosystems in 2018 according to the latest publication of data by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The CSO has today (Friday, June 7) published ‘Ecosystem Accounts – Grasslands and Croplands 2000-2022’.

The data shows that grasslands made up almost 62% of the total cover (4.4 million hectares) and croplands covered almost 6% (401,700ha.

Of croplands ecosystem types, the area of annual cropland decreased by 7% and the area covered by mixed farmland declined by 4% between 2000 and 2018.

Of grasslands ecosystem types, the area of sown pastures and fields (modified grasslands) fell by 1%, while the area of natural and semi-natural grasslands dropped by 2% between 2000 and 2018.

The CSO also stated that grasslands and croplands provided almost 36.8 million tonnes of crops in 2022.

Grasslands and croplands data

Between 2000 and 2018, forests and woodlands gained 48,300ha from grasslands and croplands, while 23,400ha of grasslands and croplands were converted into settlements and other artificial areas.

The Common Farmland Bird Index increased to 132.9 in 2022, up over 11% on 2018 when it was 119.2.

In 2022, croplands supplied a total crop provision ecosystem service of 15.1 million tonnes of crops while grasslands provided 21.7 million tonnes. Settlements and other artificial areas supplied 83,400t of crops.

Vegetables accounted for over 91% (76,200t) of the total crop provision ecosystem service provided by settlements and other artificial areas in 2022, while fruits accounted for the remaining 9% (7,200t).

In 2022, crop residues (used), fodder crops and grazed biomass accounted for almost 79% (11.9 million tonnes) of the total crop provision ecosystem service supplied by croplands, while cereals made up over 16% (2.5 million tonnes) of this supply.

Commenting on the latest data publication, statistician in the Ecosystem Accounts Division of CSO, Jamie McHugh Dolan, said: “This release is published as part of the CSO Frontier Series, which means particular care must be taken when interpreting the statistics in this release as it may use new methods which are under development and/or data sources which may be incomplete.

“This publication presents ecosystem extent, condition, and services accounts for two of Ireland’s ecosystems, grasslands and croplands, which accounted for more than two-thirds of the country’s terrestrial and transitional ecosystems in 2018.

“These accounts explore the extent of these ecosystems and their changes in extent between 2000 and 2018, the quality and condition of these ecosystems from 2000-2022, and the ecosystem services they supplied over the 2000-2022 period.”

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Pushing ahead with the correct disease control strategies for spring barley will be a priority for tillage farmers over the coming weeks.

With these crops rocketing through their growth stages at the present time, Teagasc is strongly urging growers to consult the Department of Agriculture trials data on the various varieties as the starting point in this process.

Such an approach allows growers to identify the inherent disease potential of the crops they have planted out.

Varieties with a strong disease package include: Geraldine; Gretchen; Mermaid; Spinner; and Rockway; with SY Amity a little further back.

RGT Planet stands out because it is now quite susceptible to both rhynchosporium and net blotch.    

Currently, the varieties with good disease resistance are free from disease, whereas Planet – particularly in a rotation following spring barley – is quite dirty with net blotch and some rhynchosporium.

The head of Teagasc’s ‘Crops Knowledge Transfer’ department, Michael Hennessy, said:

“As many crops may be only about two weeks until the flag leaf is visible, and this is close to the final fungicide application timing, there is a reasonable argument to monitor disease in the cleaner varieties and delay the first fungicide application if disease does not develop.

“This decision may be easier if the weather stays dry over the next couple of weeks. In this scenario, one fungicide application targeted at Ramularia may suffice.”

Disease control

Trials in Teagasc Oak Park indicate Revystar (plus Folpet) is one of the strongest products against Ramularia and, in terms of yield, Prothioconazole (Proline) plus a strob (plus Folpet) is a close second.

There is also potential to source generic products, which may represent value for money

For those growers with Planet, there is little choice other than to apply a fungicide as soon as the weather allows or at the start of stem extension.

It’s advisable to use a reasonable rate of Prothioconazole (Proline) plus pyraclostrobin (Comet or generic form), as both of these are needed to control rhynchosporium and net blotch in crops. 

Hennessy said: “A follow-up fungicide treatment at awns peeping will be necessary on these crops, again with Ramularia the main target.”

Meanwhile, the weather looks set to be cooler over the coming days with the threat of showers, particularly in the north-west.

Strengthening breezes will also feature throughout the coming days.

However, there is a chance it’ll become mainly dry later in the weekend and during early next week, with high pressure playing a more dominant role.

The post Tillage: Disease control strategies for spring barley appeared first on Agriland.ie.

A research project which is a collaboration between Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and Sligo County Council is set to ‘revolutionise’ efforts by farmers to reduce emissions from agriculture.

The researchers have outlined that agriculture, which is a cornerstone of Irish culture and economy, is a significant contributor to national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for 38.4% of emissions in 2022 according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

With the urgent need to address climate change, weather variability, and soil degradation, farmers are being called upon to embrace sustainable practices to meet Ireland’s ambitious climate targets. 

In response to these challenges, ATU and Sligo County Council have joined forces to launch a project funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) by providing horticulture and tillage farmers with innovative tools and solutions to mitigate GHG emissions and enhance sustainability.

Research project

Led by Dr. Salem Gharbia, head of the Department of Environmental Science at ATU, and Dr. Iulia Anton, a co-lead and postdoctoral researcher in environmental science at ATU, the team aims to revolutionise agricultural practices through the two-tier approach.  

The physical component comprises a network of local sensors to measure emissions from various farming activities.

The digital component integrates the real-time data into a modelling framework.

This framework enables the simulation of different farming practices and ‘what if’ scenarios, allowing farmers to optimise productivity while minimising resource consumption and carbon emissions. 

Dr. Gharbia explained the project’s objectives: “Through this project, we are developing a framework and digital platform that will enable policymakers, farmers, and local government bodies to make informed decisions and take proactive measures to address climate change impacts, for the tillage/horticulture sector.” 

Dr. Anton highlighted the urgency of tackling climate change in agriculture and the project’s potential to benefit horticulture and tillage farmers.

“Climate change poses significant challenges to Irish farms, and our project seeks to empower farmers with a digital platform to assess their carbon footprint and implement smart farming practices,” she said.

“The digital model can also simulate different farming practices and see how they would impact the farm’s carbon footprint and productivity.”

Climate Action Officer at Sligo County Council, Pete Murtagh explained the collaborative nature of the project and its engagement with local farmers: “We are excited to partner with ATU on this innovative initiative.

“By involving farmers in the co-design and implementation of solutions, we aim to foster a sense of ownership and collective responsibility in addressing climate challenges within the agricultural sector.

“By empowering farmers with data-driven insights and innovative solutions, the project aims to foster a more sustainable and resilient future for Ireland’s agricultural sector.” 

Any tillage or horticulture farmers interested in the project can get involved by contacting the team of researchers at ATU.

The post Research project to ‘revolutionise’ farmers’ climate efforts appeared first on Agriland.ie.

The vast bulk of 2024 main season potato crops are now in the ground according to Teagasc.

But field work is also continuing in some parts of the country.

Shay Phelan, Teagasc crops specialist, said: “Planting has yet to be completed in parts of North Cork and Wexford.

“But apart from that the job is pretty much wrapped up.

Growers are putting in a range of varieties at the present time including Rooster and salad potatoes.”

According to Phelan, the total area of potatoes grown in 2024 may well be up on last year.

“We won’t know the full picture until we get the official Department of Agriculture figures at the end of June.

“However, growers are very mindful of the fact that potato supplies did run low on the back of last year’s planting levels.

So they may well compensate accordingly in 2024,” he said.

Potato blight

Given the late planting dates this year, the bulk of this year’s main crop potatoes will not be harvested until the end of October.

“If we get Cinderella growing conditions over the next few months we could be looking at a late September digging date in some places,” Phelan said.

But it is the threat posed by new variants of the potato blight fungus that is really exercising the mind of potato specialists at the present time.

The EU43 strain of Phytophora infestans was identified in Ireland last year.

Phelan said: “Controlling this strain of blight and others known to be in the country will require the development of very well planned spraying programme on the part of growers.

“Mixing of different chemistries with different modes of action will be critically important.

“It is also critical that growers do not use products with the same mode of action sequentially.”

He has advised that spraying intervals should be brought down to seven days, not ten days, as would have previously been directed.

“And once a bight programme prevention programme has been initiated, the spraying intervals must be rigorously maintained,” Phelan added.

Previously, EU 43 has wreaked havoc within potato crops grown in Denmark and the Netherlands.

According to the Teagasc potato specialist Denmark was the first country to be impacted in this way.

“Subsequent trial work carried out in that country has confirmed the need to use the widest possible range of fungicide chemistries currently available in the most strategic way possible, in order to manage the threat posed by EU 43.

“Teagasc has compiled an example spray programme for Irish growers, which extends to 14 fungicide mix applications,” he added.

The post Main season potato planting almost complete – crops specialist appeared first on Agriland.ie.

Grass weed management is fast rising up the list of priorities for Irish tillage farmers. This is an issue that can significantly rob yields across all grain production enterprises.

Unlike issues such as the weather and international grain prices, the control of bromes, wild oats, Italian ryegrass and blackgrass is totally within the grasp of all growers.

Teagasc’s John Mahon has been involved in the Enable Conservation Tillage project for the past number of years.

Courtesy of this initiative, an overview was taken of the impact made by a range of grass weeds within Irish tillage systems.

Mahon said: “We looked at a number of weed types, including sterile bromes, canary grass, wild oats, blackgrass, Italian ryegrass and latterly in the project, rat’s tail fescue.

“We even had some samples of herbicide-resistant annual meadow grass presented to us. All of these weeds are problematic, but wild oats and sterile bromes are present on most farms.  

“We have control options for these weeds, however, the likes of blackgrass and Italian ryegrass, problems can escalate very quickly.”

Mahon made these comments courtesy of his contribution to the most recent Tillage Edge podcast.

“For years, we have solely relied on chemical control, when it comes to dealing with grass weed problems in Ireland.

“But this situation is changing. Herbicide resistance has become an issue. And we are also losing a number of chemistries that were a mainstay of weed control policies up to this point,” he added.

Grass weed management

According to Mahon, the growing use of minimum disturbance crop establishment systems has allowed the challenge posed by pace of grass weeds to accelerate.

“There is also a need for farmers to better recognise these more problematic weeds at an earlier stage of growth,” he said.

Teagasc trials are confirming that counties Wexford, Kildare and Kilkenny are hot spots for wild oats, especially resistant forms of the weed.

Meanwhile, counties Meath, Kildare and Dublin are hot spots for blackgrass and Italian ryegrass, which are classified as invasive weed species within Irish tillage systems.

However, there are strong indications that the geographic footprint of these weeds is spreading throughout all tillage counties.

The post Tillage advice: Effective grass weed management appeared first on Agriland.ie.

Teagasc has confirmed that the threat of herbicide resistance in blackgrass, Italian ryegrass and spring wild oats is now very real.

Priority action on the part of tillage farmers is now required, where this matter is concerned. But, what does this mean in practical terms?

Farms where Italian ryegrass and blackgrass are present should be treated as resistance-suspect, and samples sent for analysis prior to harvest.

A zero tolerance approach should be taken to avoid weed seed being returned.

On farms where Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase)-resistant spring wild oats are present, there is only one control option available – acetolactate synthase (ALS) herbicides: Pacifica or Broadway.

These products should be carefully used in conjunction with hand rogueing to reduce the seed bank number.

Herbicide resistance

The continued use of the one herbicide chemistry will lead to resistance. No full herbicide-resistant brome strains have as yet been detected on Irish farms.

Both ALS (Pacifica, Broadway) and ACCase (Falcon, Stratos) have been found to be effective when applied at full label rates on small and actively growing plants.

But, the loss of sensitivity with lower application rates of these herbicides is concerning.

Cultural control methods – stale seedbeds, rotation, later sowing etc., – should be practiced where brome is present.

In addition, the limited opportunities for autumn pre-emergence use, and the on-going wet weather challenges will affect the timely spring weed control programme in 2024.

Products used now should be reviewed based on weed spectrum, crop type and growth stages.

Increased vigilance on the part of tillage farmers in dealing with the threat posed by herbicide-resistant grass weeds will be required.

This approach will include resistance testing and integrated approaches, such as the use of cultural control systems and judicious use of herbicides into the future.

Significantly, Teagasc’s 2023 testing of resistance-suspect grass weeds revealed a worrying situation: 60% of samples submitted were found to be resistant to a wide range of herbicides.

Take Italian ryegrass as a case in point – a total of 17 different populations were grown alongside a herbicide-sensitive control.

All were sprayed at the two to three-leaf stage with label rates of ACCase (Axial, Falcon, Stratos Ultra, Centurion Max) and ALS (Pacifica Plus or Monolith, Broadway Star) herbicides 

The results, now available, confirm that 15 out of the 17 populations tested were resistant.

All 15 populations were ALS-resistant and 12 of those were also ACCase-resistant.

Moreover, populations that developed resistance to Stratos Ultra also had an impact on the efficacy of Centurion Max, resulting in no chemical options within crops for four populations.

Target-site resistance was the main mechanism for populations resistant to ALS herbicides.

However for ACCase, target-site (for populations cross-resistant to all ACCase herbicides) and metabolic resistance (for populations resistant to Axial and/or Falcon) were both involved.

The post The threat of herbicide resistance in grass weeds appeared first on Agriland.ie.

A Met Éireann yellow warning for potato blight has been issued for four counties today (Thursday, May 30).

Conditions conducive to the spread of potato blight are expected to develop on Sunday night (June 2) and early next week.

The national forecaster announced there will be opportunities for spraying tomorrow (Friday, May 31) and on Saturday, June 1.

The affected regions, according to Met Éireann, are Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo, and Sligo.

Pale green areas (shown in the image above) have a very low blight risk of 0-3 EBH (effective blight hours) and dark green areas have low blight risk (4-6 EBH).

Yellow areas have a medium risk of blight (7-9 EBH), orange areas have a high risk (10-12 EBH), red areas have a very high risk of blight (>12 EBH).

The umbrella group of European Union (EU) farm organisations, Copa Cogeca has said that a “European action plan to combat late blight in potatoes is needed”.

It has said the annual economic damage in the EU from potato blight is estimated at around €900 million.

The Copa Cogeca statement detailed that “potato late blight is already a significant threat to the 2024 growing season across several regions of the EU, even before potato planting is completed”.

The organisation stated that the pathogen, Phytophthora infestans, infects both the foliage and tubers of potato plants and can devastate the entire crop within just one or two weeks.

This pathogen is highly adaptive, and recent developments show that it is evolving more complex virulence spectra, enabling it to overcome an increasing number of resistance genes.

Copa Cogeca also added there is an “alarming development of combined resistance to single-site fungicide active ingredients”.

It said: “These troubling developments are drastically reducing the effectiveness of current control tools, potentially undermining future Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies.”

This poses a severe threat to European potato production, the potato supply chain, and the positive EU trade balance.

Copa Cogeca announced the EU potato sector proposes “both short-term and long-term solutions”.

In the short term, the action plan presented today, proposes among others, the creation of a stakeholder dialogue platform and the reinforcement of communications IPM strategies.

In the mid-term, Copa Cogeca stated that “signatories propose developing a coordinated approach from the crop protection sector, breeders, researchers, and European farmers”.

The organisation detailed that the “most effective way to control the spread of late blight remaining is the combined use of effective plant protection products and resistant potato varieties with combinations of different resistance genes as well as promoting best agricultural management practices”.

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The Potash Development Association (PDA) has published an overview of the role played by potassium in maximising cereal plant nutrition.

The nutrient is needed in such large amounts because it is the major regulator of solution concentrations throughout the plant.

In essence, potash controls cell sap content to maintain the turgor of the plant and supports the movement of all materials within the plant.

Therefore, potassium supply is essential for all nutrient uptake by the roots and movement to the leaves for photosynthesis.

It also plays a key role in the distribution of sugars and proteins made by the green tissue for plant growth and grain fill.

Adequate available potash is essential to produce high-quality marketable grain with good specific weight and well filled grains.

A shortage will result in premature ripening, with significantly lower individual grain size and weight and will also prevent some potential grain sites from developing, thus reducing the number of grains per ear.

Cereals convert natural resources, including water, solar energy and carbon dioxide into grain.

With light being one of the most common limitations for crops in the UK and Ireland in most seasons, the more sunlight is intercepted, the higher the yield.

As cereals are annual crops, they are not able to capture sunlight all year. The latest measurement data would suggest that cereal crops have the ability to capture up to 60% of the season-long energy.

However, the current Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) benchmark within the organisation’s ‘Wheat Growth Guide’ is based on a 47% figure.

While there is some opportunity for improvement early in the season, most of the ‘lost’ solar energy occurs in the run up to harvest.

The canopy starts to senesce from June onwards, but the speed of senescence will depend on a variety of factors, including moisture availability.

While there is little that can be done about the weather (unless irrigation is a viable option), one of the variables that can be controlled is the supply of potash to a crop.

The level of potassium available to a crop can have a dramatic impact on the speed of its development, from flowering through to ripening.

Measurements taken from three soils with varying levels of potash showed crops that were well supplied with potassium took 29 days longer to fully senesce than crops that were deficient. This represented a 64% increase.

Moisture stress significantly reduces growth and accelerates leaf senescence due to the reduced time to translocate metabolites from leaves to grain, which ultimately affect grain yield and quality.

Delayed leaf senescence can therefore facilitate plants in remobilising nutrients from old senescing leaves to young leaves and the developing grains.

The end result is an increased and more sustainable crop yield.

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Tillage farmers in Northern Ireland are reporting excellent germination rates and plant counts in spring cereal crops that were established over the past month.

For the most part, crops were sown out into well prepared seed beds.

The germinating plants received rain when they needed it and the accompanying warmer temperatures have driven growth rates forward at a more than acceptable rate.

Many crops have pushed through the four leaf stage, with the majority of growers applying a herbicide over the past few days.

Spring cereal crops

There is strong evidence to suggest that a significant proportion of spring barley and wheat crops have been rolled in order to boost tillering rates.  

A fundamental question now confronts cereal growers with spring barley and wheat crops – should plant growth regulator be applied to manage straw length and reduce the risk of lodging?

The jury is out, however, on whether spring cereals should be treated with an insecticide.

Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) is not normally that big of a challenge in Northern Ireland.

However, given the significant incidence of the problem further south this year, it really is a case of growers walking individual crops and checking for the presence of aphids.

It is now predicted that, assuming weather patterns hold to a more seasonal norm, it should be possible to get most late planted spring cereal crops harvested before the end of August.

While yields will not be much to write home about, such an eventuality would allow cereal growers to get their 2024/25 planting season off to a positive start.

Meanwhile, most of Northern Ireland’s winter cereal crops have improved dramatically, in response to the warmer and drier conditions of recent weeks.

In many instances, it will be a case of breaking even at best, and this is the scenario facing cereal growers who drilled crops on their own land.

Those who rented ground last autumn are, almost certainly, looking at the prospect of significant losses.

The option of whole cropping winter wheat and barley is one that many cereal growers in Northern Ireland may look at seriously over the coming weeks.

Given the shortfall in silage stocks that impacted across the entire island of Ireland last winter, all forage sources should be worth real money throughout the 2024/25 feeding season.

The only factor that might make cereal farmers with thin crops of winter wheat and/or barley push on to the combine, is the price of straw.

Recent years have seen straw significantly outstrip grass silage prices on a dry matter (DM) basis. It is now regarded as a vital component in all total mixed rations (TMR), as well as remaining an important livestock bedding material. 

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The International Seed Federation (ISF) and 12 organisations representing plant breeders around the world are to collaborate in the fight against illegal seed practices.

The organisations pledged their cooperation as they signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed at the ISF World Seed Congress 2024 today (Tuesday, May 28) in the Netherlands.

Through this new agreement, the organisations aim to increase awareness about and implement legitimate seed and plant practices worldwide.

These practices promote value creation in the agricultural and horticultural sectors and foster innovation for farmers and growers.

ISF said that such innovation is crucial to the development of plant varieties that meet the current and future needs of plant breeders, including adaptation to the impacts of climate change and resistance to different pests and diseases.

Illegal seed practices

Illegal seed practices may cover activities including counterfeit seeds; fraudulent labelling; intellectual property infringements; regulatory offences; trademark infringements, and thefts of proprietary material.

According to a recent survey conducted by ISF, such practices are widespread in many countries, affecting many crops, value chain actors and even consumers.

Depending on the crops and geographies, illegal seeds may account for up to 50% of the market.

This can result in devastating consequences for farmers, who may face severe crop failures and economic losses.

“It is time that we act together to raise awareness about not only the magnitude but also the serious consequences that illegal activities in seeds may have not only economically to seed companies and farmers but also to consumers,” Marco van Leeuwen, president of ISF, said.

ISF has also put in place a procedure to exclude entities and individuals who are proven to commit illegal seed practices from future world congresses.

The organisations participating in the agreement are: the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA); the Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance (APSA); Euroseeds; the Seed Association of the Americas (SAA); the Anti-Infringement Bureau for Intellectual Property Rights on Plant Material (AIB) and the Breeders’ Trust.

They are joined by CIOPORA (International Community of Breeders of Asexually Reproduced Horticultural Plants); CropLife International; Gestión de Licencias Vegetales (GESLIVE); SICASOV; Seed Innovation Protection Alliance (SIPA), and Seeds Innovation and Protection Initiative (SIPI).

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According to crops specialist at Teagasc, Shay Phelan, blackgrass plants have already started to flower in some cereal crops.

So, growers should walk their crops in the coming days and weeks to make sure that they don’t have any issues.

“Waiting until later in June will be too late, as the grass will have set seed and will be starting to shed seeds.

“Growers should take a zero tolerance approach to grass weeds, as these problems will only increase over the coming years,” Phelan said.

It is estimated that blackgrass is costing UK growers between £400-500/ha. In many areas, it is now endemic, meaning they will never eradicate it.

Given this reality, every step must be taken to ensure this scenario is not repeated here in Ireland.

Effective management of blackgrass will require farmers to secure a 97% control rate every year.

“Each plant produces up to 10 heads. In turn, these can produce up to 6,000,000 seeds/ha on the basis of just one blackgrass plant per square metre,” the tillage specialist said.

Blackgrass

Preventing seed return is one of the key objectives when it comes to controlling blackgrass. So, where there is a low level of infestation, rouging the weeds is probably the best option.

Crops need to be walked on a weekly basis over the next month or so, as doing so will ensure that late germinating blackgrass plants are identified.

Growers can utilise a number of control options, in cases of high blackgrass infestation levels. These include the use of whole cropping, mowing and baling or crop destruction.

Crop destruction refers to the use of roundup to completely clear out areas within a crop where high levels of blackgrass infestation exist.

All control options must be taken before blackgrass sheds its seed. This takes place from mid-June onwards, so, now is the best time for growers to take whatever control options are necessary.

According to the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB), average blackgrass seed decline in the soil is about 75%/year.

Seed persistence data and farm experience both support the view that a one-year fallow or grass ley is not long enough to reduce high blackgrass infestations to acceptable levels.

After two years, less than 10% of seeds are likely to remain.

However, this could still be a large number and a longer break may be required. Failure to prevent seed return greatly undermines the value of a fallow or grass ley break.

The cultivation strategy followed at the end of any fallow or grass ley break is also important.

Sufficient time needs to elapse between cultivating and sowing the next crop to allow the destruction of seedlings emerging from residual seeds.

Meanwhile, Shay Phelan has said that Italian ryegrass is also becoming a problem on many Irish farms. Again, a zero tolerance approach needs to be taken.

“Both Italian ryegrass and blackgrass grass have the capability to develop herbicide resistance within a relatively short number of growing seasons,” Phelan added.

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Profitability and value chains are key issues to be addressed if the EU is to reduce its reliance on imported animal feed protein and to produce more of it here, according to the European Commission.

A recently-released study, carried out for the commission, found that ensuring profitability and strong value chains “remain central” to developing protein production in the EU.

Reducing dependence on feed imports can contribute to the EU’s strategic autonomy, the commission said.

Animal feed demand is set to remain stable at 71 million tonnes for 2023/2024 in crude protein this year. EU self-sufficiency for all source of protein is expected to be at 75%.

The EU remains fully sufficient in roughage, and it is still the main source of feed protein, representing 41% of total EU feed use. The share of all oilseed meals represents 27% of total feed protein use in the EU, and the share of cereals represents 21%. However, for oilseed meals, the EU only produces 27% of what it needs to feed its livestock sector.

The EU’s dependence on imports of protein products is linked to a number of issues, such as the average size of holdings; the available land on the continent; the competitiveness of different crops; and overall, less favourable soil and climate for specific products, like soya beans.

However, the bloc is making some progress, according to the study. The EU’s production of protein-rich plants (oilseeds and dry pulses) is forecast to be at 7.2 million tonnes of crude protein in 2023/24, which represents a significant growth of 28% over the last 15 years.

The study noted that coupled income support for the production of legumes and crops is included in 20 of the member states’ Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) strategic plans.

As a result, the area under this type of financial support is expected to grow to 7.1 million hectares in 2027, from 4.2 million hectares in 2022.

The commission said it is investing in research and innovation in the field of protein crops and feeding systems under a number of research measures to make livestock production systems more sustainable, resilient, and circular.

“However, it is relevant to explore if more could be done at EU and national level to support farmers’ economic choices towards EU protein production,” the commission said.

The study highlighted land availability as one key barrier to increasing the EU’s animal feed protein self-sufficiency. For example, to replace 50% of the EU’s current soy bean imports with another suitable crop produced here would take 6.6 million hectares of land currently used for other crops.

“On the medium-long term, the possible options to reduce import dependency can thus only be a combination of different levers and alternatives that must be competitive, available over a longer period, meet the nutritional needs of animals and be reasonably priced,” the commission said.

Among the various courses of actions suggested, the study mentions notably increasing the share of protein derived from grass in the ruminants’ diet; supporting public and private research to select more efficient varieties to improve yields; better use of the nutritional value of raw materials; and funding training for farmers.

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Despite predictions to the contrary made some weeks ago, very little tillage ground has been left fallow in Ireland this year.

The good weather that kicked-in at the beginning of May stayed around long enough to tempt farmers out into fields.

These same growers, probably, had the seed previously purchased and so decided to push on, despite the fact that they were drilling spring crops on what would normally be regarded as very late sowing dates.

Meanwhile, farmers who had not previously purchased barley seed may well have decided to push ahead with forage maize.

While there are no figures available as yet, regarding the actual maize acreage planted out in 2024, the figure is almost certainly well up on 2023.

It’s a simple rule of thumb – tillage farmers can grow the drops, while dairy and beef farmers can utilise the resulting silages to optimal effect.

There have been countless articles written over recent months about the impact of the weather on the tillage sector, and rightly so.

However, of equal significance, was the fact that so many dairy and livestock farmers ran out of silage at the height of the bad weather in the spring.

It is these memories, possibly more than any other factor, that is driving the push towards maize this year.

The same principle also holds where beet is concerned; an increase in the area of the crop grown this year is on the cards.

Meanwhile, late sown spring cereals are rocketing through their growth stages at the present time.

This had been expected – the challenge for tillage farmers is that of managing this growth effectively.

One constant theme coming through from agronomists, is the recommendation not to put excessive nitrogen (N) on these crops. The general consensus is to cap application rates at 90 units/ac.

Meanwhile, winter cereals, particularly wheat, have demonstrated tremendous resilience over recent weeks.

Again, this is down to the good weather and drying conditions that have characterised the month of May up to this point. Wheat crops that looked down and out at the end of March have rebounded significantly.

However, areas of crops ‘boasting’ poor enough plant numbers at the end of last February have tillered out well.

Obviously, nobody is expecting record wheat yields in Ireland this year. However, the prospect of getting 3t/ac from crops that looked only fit for the plough a few short weeks ago will put a much needed ‘spring in the step’ of many tillage farmers.

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Irish Grain Growers’ Group (IGGG) chair, Bobby Miller has welcomed the recent comments made by Taoiseach, Simon Harris on the importance of the tillage sector.

“Both the Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland, Charlie McConalogue, have referenced the importance of the crops sector over recent days. This is all very positive.

“But, the time for talking is over. Tillage farmers want to see real decisions taken now in order to secure the future of their industry into the future.”

Miller sees the government’s response to the recently published Food Vision Tillage Report as the most effective means of making this happen.

IGGG

But, above and beyond this, IGGG wants to see Irish agriculture – as an entire entity – recognising the key role played by the tillage sector.

Miller continued: “There is no reason why Irish dairy, livestock and pig producers cannot pay a premium price for Irish grains.

“But, this will only happen if meat and dairy processers are prepared to pay farmers making this commitment a sustainable end price for their produce.”

Miller referenced the exceptionally low carbon footprint already achieved by Irish tillage farmers.

The chair continued: “In the case of some farmers, the securing of a carbon net zero position has already been achieved.

“Government must recognise the key role already being played by tillage farmers within the push to secure Ireland’s climate change targets.”

According to the IGGG representative, the issue of providing farmers access to carbon credits, commensurate with their current sustainability status, must be addressed by government s a matter of priority.

Miller said: “Government should also act to re-direct a proportion of the funds generated by the carbon tax to help further facilitate investment on Irish tillage farms.

“This approach has already been taken where the retro-fitting of solar panels and the delivery of energy upgrades to 500,000 Irish homes are concerned.

“So, it would be appropriate for government to recognise the value of appropriate investment programmes on tillage farms in the same context.”

Referring to the general prospects for the 2024 harvest, Miller confirmed that most spring crops planted over the past months had germinated well, and are now achieving their various growth stages at a very rapid place.

“The weather will play a critically important role over the next few weeks.

“The reality is that yield records will not be broken in 2024. Growers are hoping that the weather plays ball during June and July, leading to the hope of a straightforward harvest, come August,” he explained.

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The global plant protein market is valued at over €17 billion per year and is expected to grow steadily over the coming decades.

Currently, Ireland imports almost all of its plant protein from both EU and non-EU countries.

However, Irish tillage farmers achieve some of the highest yields of protein crops, such as peas and beans, in Europe.

This level of performance reflects the soil quality and growing conditions that exist in this country.

One interesting development in recent consumer trends, is the radical increase in plant protein demand within the agri-value chain.

Without doubt, Ireland’s Protein Payment Scheme has catalysed a surge in protein crop cultivation since its introduction almost a decade ago.

Yet, even with this surge in output, protein output proportion remains just a fraction of Ireland’s total tillage output.

The relative absence of mainstream protein crop production and utilisation here in Ireland remains a reality. So, why does this state of affairs exist?

It’s a question that has been addressed by research officer at Teagasc Johnstown Castle, Alan Fahy.

Plant protein

He wonders, if the protein payment were to go away, would the area grown revert back to pre-payment days, which averaged just 3,187ha annually from 2000 to 2014?

Fahy said: “In a world where concerns mount over food security, nutrition, and environmental sustainability, it’s hard to overlook the potential of protein crops to help tackle such issues simultaneously.

“Protein crops have long been known to offer a multitude of benefits to farmers, including enhanced soil fertility, a myriad of ecosystem services, as well as financial savings through reduced fertiliser usage.

“At the same time, there is a growing consumer base demanding more localised, traceable produce with high nutritional value.”

All of this gives rise to the following, further questions.

Is there somewhat of a chicken and egg scenario going on here, whereby farmers are reluctant to grow a crop without a viable market to sell?

And, will the market side not buy into any stringent expansion in the absence of a strong national supply?

“While it’s hard to overlook the place for protein crops in terms of Ireland’s environmental targets, it seems equally as hard to overlook the market opportunities that this globally growing market could grant multiple sectors in Ireland.

“At the moment, however, there is little evidence of organic and symbiotic market growth in the protein crop production-utilisation area at national level,” Fahy added.

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Co. Armagh cereal grower, Tim McClelland, is maintaining an effective crop rotation by focusing on winter crops only.

McClelland said: “Too many late spring planting seasons, poor seed beds and the problematic September harvests that followed were the key reasons for me switching solely to winter crops.

“That’s not to say autumn planting throws up more than its fair share of challenges. Last back-end was a case in point, but the system I have put in place suits the land that is available to me.”

McClelland farms close to the village of Tandragee, where his farm extends close to 270ac. His cropping mix comprises winter oats, wheat, barley and oilseed rape.

“The business is LEAF-accredited. This means that we are certified by a lead­ing glob­al assur­ance sys­tem that officially recognises more sus­tain­ably farmed prod­ucts,” the cereal grower said.

McClelland’s oats are sold to the nearby White’s milling operation. Part of the Fane Valley group, the business specialises in the production of porridge and granola.

“Rape is a very effective break crop and is followed by wheat in the rotation that is now in place on the farm,” he said.

Oats apart, the rest of the cereals produced on the farm are sold to feed compounding operations in Northern Ireland.

Last week saw the last of the nitrogen (N) fertiliser applied to McClelland’s 2023/24 winter crops.

He continued: “Planting conditions last autumn were tricky enough, particularly on the headlands. It was a case of getting on with field work when breaks in the weather permitted.

“Given this backdrop, I am happy enough with the state of all the crops at the present time.

“Winter oats are at growth stage 37. Graham is the main winter wheat variety grown on the farm. It is prone to septoria attack, and 2024 has turned out to be no different in this regard.”

According to the Co. Armagh cereal producer, the harvest of 2024 is now totally weather dependent: “If we get a decent run-up to the end of the growing season, then most of the crops should perform well enough.”

McClelland is very aware of the changes coming down the track with regard to farm support payments made available in Northern Ireland.

Specific provision has been made available for the beef sector in this context.

As of yet, no bespoke measures have been proposed for the tillage and vegetable sectors.

“I am not a big believer in the principle of subsidies, however, if support is made available to farming into the future, then the cereal sector should be treated accordingly,” he added.

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The use of home-saved seed on Irish farms is constantly monitored, according to the Plant Variety Development Office (PVDO).

The office has confirmed that a farmer in the east of the country recently agreed a settlement of unpaid royalties due on his farm-saved seed.

PVDO is the authorised body that administers the collection of royalties on farm saved seed (FSS), sometimes called home saved seed, in Ireland.

Brigid Quigley from the PVDO said:

“We are not in the business of naming and shaming. It is for this reason that we are not going pubic with the details of the farmer involved.”

According to Quigley, the PVDO employs online methods to identify farmers using home-saved seed.

“We also know farmers who, traditionally, save their own seed, and monitor these circumstances accordingly. Farmers using their own seed pay a reduced royalty fee,” she said.

Spring barley

Quigley is very conscious that a lot of new spring barley varieties were imported into Ireland earlier this year, due to the very poor 2023 harvest.

She said: “All imported seed stocks are listed on a register of official EU varieties.

“Farmers saving seed for use in 2025, from imported seed used this year, will still have to pay all relevant royalties at the appropriate time.”   

The most recent seed royalties’ case was taken by PVDO under plant variety rights legislation.

Prior to the case being heard in open court, the farmer in question agreed to pay all royalties on cereal seed sown in a number of previous years along with the legal costs incurred.

Penalties under the legislation for evasion of royalties or mis-declaration include payment of monies owed, legal costs and a fine of up to €5,000.

According to Quigley, plant breeders all over Europe depend on income from seed royalties to survive.

Moreover, this income is legally protected under legislation on plant reproductive material, plant variety rights and farm-saved seed regulations.

All this legislation is enforceable by the PVDO, a company limited by guarantee, and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) in Ireland.

“Farmers depend on new varieties, which are bred continuously by plant breeders to provide growers with crops that increase yield and can cope more effectively with diseases, pests, drought and other impacts of climate change.

“Farmers should note the sale, purchase or trade in any form of uncertified seed is illegal.

“Certified seed must only be sourced from an official seed merchant, or in the case of farm saved seed, it can only be seed from a farmers own holding, its use must be declared and royalties must be paid on it,” she added.

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The European Union needs to decrease dependency on imported crops through policy interventions, according to recommendations from a new study from Science Direct.

The study, ‘Subsidising extensive cattle production in the European Union has major implications for global agricultural trade and climate change’, assesses potential market-mediated impacts in 2030.

This included looking at Land Use Change (LUC) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, of a budget-neutral increase in pastureland subsidy rates in the EU, aimed at increasing pastureland areas to improve the environmental sustainability and self-sufficiency of the EU livestock sector.

The study used the tax recycling strategy (TRS) simulated against a baseline up to 2030 under the shared socioeconomic pathway 2 (SSP2).

SSP2 describes a middle-of-the-road development in the mitigation and adaptation challenges space.

The strategy shows that while 2030 will bring increases for pasture land areas and cattle production in almost all EU member states, cropland and crop production will decrease, causing significant changes across EU agri-food markets.

Imported crops

Crop prices will therefore increase, leading to the reduced output of intensive animal production sectors, mainly pig and poultry, according to the study.

The outlook showed cropland areas decreasing, and most EU countries increasing imports of grain, oilseeds, and cakes, essentially soybean cake from Brazil and North America.

The study states that while GHG emissions decrease in those EU countries where pasturelands expand mainly at the cost of croplands, GHG emissions increase in those countries where pastureland expansion comes with forest loss.

The policy shows that promoting extensive livestock does not meet the objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the EU Green Deal.

The study recommends that existing policies should be mixed with further plans to foster crop diversification and promote the use of domestic feed sources to ensure “feed self-sufficiency”.

The study also highlighted that spillover effects of international trade “should not be overlooked” when developing regional agricultural policy strategies affecting what it stated were “increasingly interlinked” market areas: food, feed, fuel, and fibre.

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Farming outside Castledermot in Co. Kildare, Peter Byrne and his family run a mixed enterprise farm consisting of both tillage and a dairy calf to beef enterprise.

The farm encompasses just over 70ha, all of which is in one block. The grassland area covers almost 43ha and the remaining ground is dedicated to the tillage enterprise.

Peter’s farm hosted a Teagasc DairyBeef500 farm walk on Tuesday, May 7, where the management practices and financial performance of his calf to beef operation were discussed.

Tillage

The tillage enterprise on the farm consists of producing winter and spring barley, fodder beet and a small area of beans.

Approximately 50% of the crops produced from the tillage operation are sold over to the beef operation at market value.

These are used as winter feed for the beef-finishing enterprise, while excess cereals and beet are sold off farm.

In 2023, a combi crop of beans and barley was grown and this feed now forms part of this year’s calf diet.

Grass

Last year, the farm grew over 13.5t/DM of grass/ha using a total of 169kg of chemical nitrogen (N)/ha. The low level of chemical N used on the grassland block is attributed to the introduction of both red and white clover on the farm.

Peter believes that the application of chemical N on the farm will reduce even further as more clover becomes established.

During spring last year, a red-clover silage sward was established. This block received only three bags of 10-10-20 that was applied at sowing.

The red clover was cut three times and yielded 15 bales/ac in its first year and tested 73% Dry Matter Digestibility (DMD), with a crude protein of 14.4%.

Peter measures grass growth on his farm and uploads the figures on to PastureBase. Last year, Peter uploaded 33 walks onto Pasturebase.

He believes that measuring grass is one of the keys to achieving higher weight gains from cattle at grass, saying: “If you are not measuring what you have, you are likely to go into heavy covers, as you will be afraid of running out, which will have a knock-on effect on weight gains.”

The Kildare farmer operates a simple paddock system with a lot of temporary wires used to allocate the correct grass allowance.

Water troughs are positioned in the centre of fields to allow additional paddocks to be formed and temporary fences are run off permanent fences.

Residency time in the paddock is usually no more than two days and this allows more grass to be grown as cattle are not getting a chance to graze off regrowth’s.

Calf rearing

A total of 162 calves were reared on the farm this spring, 39 heifer calves and 123 bull calves. 55% of the calves are Holstein/Friesian with the remaining breeds on the farm being made up of Angus, Aubrac, Limousin and Longhorn.

Calves are now all sourced from four local dairy farmers with 60% of calves having a Commercial Beef Value (CBV) of three stars or greater and Peter aims to place more emphasis on buying calves from local dairy farmers that have better beef genetics.

All male cattle are finished as steers at approximately 24-months-of-age, with the aim being to have the majority of the heifer calves slaughtered prior to housing for the second winter at 19 -20-months-of-age.

Weight gain

• Steers

For male dairy-beef calves, the aim is for an average daily live weight gain (ADG) of 0.75kg/day during calf rearing (from purchase in mid March at 45kg) bringing them to a live weight of 95kg in mid-May.

From mid-may to mid-November (first season at grass), the aim is for an ADG of 0.7kg/day bringing the male calves to 240kg at housing.

During the first winter, the aim is for an ADG of 0.6/day, bringing the target weight to 300kg by early March.

For the second season at grass, the aim is for male cattle to gain 0.9kg/day, bringing the target weight to 500kg by mid-October.

For the finishing period, the target is for an ADG of 1.1kg/day, bringing the target weight at finish to 620kg in mid-February.

• Heifers

For female dairy-beef calves, the aim is for an average daily live weight gain (ADG) of 0.7kg/day during calf rearing (from purchase in mid March at 45kg) bringing them to a live weight of 90kg in mid May.

From mid May to mid November (first season at grass), the aim is for an ADG of 0.7kg/day bringing the male calves to 220kg at housing.

During the first winter, the aim is for an ADG of 0.6/day, bringing the target weight to 290kg by early March.

For the second season at grass, the aim is for female cattle to gain 0.9kg/day, bringing the target weight to 465kg by mid-September.

For the finishing period, the target is for an ADG of 1kg/day, bringing the target weight at finish to 510kg in late October.

Profitability

The profitability on Peter’s farm has held relatively steady over the last three years since a significant increase in net margin in 2021.

Peter has managed to increase his output from forage in the form of both grazed grass and grass silage.

Variable costs have increased over the years mainly due to price inflation and are running at 65% of gross output.

The table below gives a glimpse of the farm profitability over the past four years. It is important to note direct payments, land costs or own labour charges are not included in the figures:

Peter runs a high stocking rate on his grassland area but remains outside derogation when the tillage land is brought back in.

As mentioned above, any cereal that is used on the farm as livestock feed is bought in from the tillage enterprise at current market prices.

Live weight output per hectare dropped off significantly per hectare in 2023. This was due to a combination of a higher amount of cattle killed earlier and at lighter carcasses than 2022.

The live weight output per hectare is expected to recover in 2024. Peter plans to put more land into grassland and to increase the number of calves he is rearing by 30.

Peter has received planning permission to construct a four-bay doubled slatted unit recently and the plan is to construct this shed in early 2025.

This will have an impact on increasing fixed costs in the future years but if output is increased, as a result, net margin should also rise.

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The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) has called on Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue to “put money on the table” if the decline in the area under tillage is to be reversed.

ICSA Tillage chair Gavin Carbery said: “The tillage sector is in dire need of a significant and multi-year financial boost which must be delivered if the department [is] serious about meeting the target of increasing the tillage area to 400,000ha by 2030 as part of the Climate Action Plan.”

Carberry was speaking following the publication this week of the Food Vision Tillage Group Report.

The report recommended that an immediate financial support package be put in place for the sector for the 2024 growing season.

It was one of 28 recommendations outlined in the report, although a specific monetary value was not mentioned.

“The actions and recommendations put forward in the report could indeed put the sector on a firmer footing but only if the necessary finance is forthcoming,” Carbery continued.

“The promised payment of €100/ha for crops planted in 2024, though welcome, is not nearly enough to stop the rot within the sector following some particularly challenging years.

“What’s needed is a multiple of that €100/ha and for that payment to continue beyond 2024 and be sustained for at least the next five years,” he added.

The ICSA has said that funding is needed to first stabilise the sector so that growth can then be fostered.

“We don’t have any time to lose on this; it is imperative that this report is implemented in full and that a strong financial commitment is issued to ensure that happens,” Carbery stated.

The ICSA has also stressed the importance of collaboration between the tillage and livestock sectors and has urged that a mechanism to facilitate the forward trade in straw be established.

“Likewise, allowing tillage farmers to take in farmyard manure that could be spread on land that is then used for the Straw Incorporation Measure would be very beneficial to both tillage and livestock farmers,” Carbery said.

IOA reaction to tillage report

Meanwhile the recommendations regarding organic tillage in the Food Vision Tillage Report have been welcomed by the Irish Organic Association (IOA).

The report includes a recommendation to further exploit opportunities for growing the organic tillage sector.

Other actions promoting the use of Irish feed grains, developing Irish flour production and stepping up the environmental performance of the tillage sector are also “highly relevant”, according to the IOA.

Irish Organic Association CEO, Gillian Westbrook said: “With growing interest in organic production amongst Irish farmers, the Irish Organic Association welcomes several of the recommendations in the report which an expanding organic food sector in Ireland is well-placed to exploit with the right incentives and joined-up thinking.

“This is backed by robust demand for organic food both in Ireland and internationally, with consumers making a clear distinction between organic production and other products in terms of its positive environmental benefits.

“Irish organic producers are already leading the way in diversifying into the production of high-quality organic grains for food and animal feed, from protein and cereal mixtures for animal feed, to oats for the breakfast cereals and milling wheat for flour.

“Despite premium market opportunities, it is critical that going forward the implementation of the tillage report fully reflects the needs of organic tillage production such as the associated costs of organic crop rotations and the fertility-building phase of production as well as building capacities for processing and adding value to organic grains at different scales through industry collaboration,” she concluded.

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Taoiseach Simon Harris said today (Thursday, May 16) that the government will be aiming to build on support for tillage farmers in the upcoming budget in October.

When asked by Agriland during a farm visit in Clane, Co. Kildare, the Taoiseach said that while the government is looking at what it can “do right here and right now in advance of the budget to quickly support farmers,” it is also bearing the upcoming budget in mind too.

He was also asked if the €100/ha announced last month for tillage farmers could be expanded on for farmers later in the year.

The Taoiseach stated that the government was aiming to see how it could “build on that support in the budget in October.

“We want to look at a tillage support scheme and how we can out that into place.”

The Taoiseach acknowledged that he knows “how difficult a period of time it has been for farmers, largely owing to the weather.

“I have been on a number of farms where the damage and the impact has been significant, and the mental health pressures are real as well,” he added.

Harris said he is currently “working with colleagues in government to try and finalise a tillage scheme”.

Retaining the nitrates derogation

Harris told Agriland he is “making sure Ireland is ready to retain the nitrates derogation.

“That is something we must retain, and Fine Gael in government are very committed to doing that,” he added.

 The Taoiseach said: “We considered a proposal at cabinet this week in relation to the nitrates derogation. It’s such an important part of our economic model and I think it needs to be seen as such.

“We need to be able to show progress from a trend point of view in terms of water quality. Once we can do that, Europe also then needs to understand that the nitrates derogation is vital.

“So we have an obligation to show progress on water, they have an obligation to show common sense and a reasonable approach,” the Taoiseach explained.

“We to intend to convene a taskforce that would work on how Ireland nationally plans. We need to pull everybody together; farmer rep bodies, industry, government agencies.

“This needs to be a team Ireland in terms of the national derogation because it does mean that much.

The Taoiseach said: “It will matter who we elect to the European Parliament, it will matter who are our voices at a European level, because we do need strong voices that get it, in terms of the importance of this to the agri-food sector, to the Irish economy, to farming in general.

New partnership with farmers

Fine Gael’s National Agricultural, Food, and Rural Development Forum (NAFRD) today presented an Taoiseach Simon Harris with a plan to create a new partnership with farmers for his consideration.

Speaking at the launch of the report, the Taoiseach Simon Harris said: “Fine Gael is the party of farmers.

“This party values the essential role farmers play in our economy and our society. We want to work with the farming community to address the challenges ahead and this policy charts a pathway forward.”

Minister of state at the Department of Agriculture, Martin Heydon T.D. said: “The agri-food sector employs over 170,000 people, making an enormous economic and social contribution to rural and coastal communities.

“Farmers the length and breadth of Ireland took time to come to NAFRD events and share their views on the future of agriculture and rural Ireland.

“Fine Gael has been listening and I want to thank the forum for putting together this report, which contains a number of significant recommendations.

“I look forward to reviewing them and teasing through them in the time ahead,” Minister Heydon added.

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The challenges that confront Irish tillage at the present time are manifold in nature, and recent published figures confirm this trend aplenty.

A case in point has been the recent Teagasc downgrading of the margins that farmers planting spring barley crops over recent weeks can expect to achieve.

The issue was discussed at the recent crops walk hosted by Bertie and Martin Ennis on their north Dublin farm.

According to Teagasc tillage specialist, Shay Phelan, winter barley and wheat crops drilled over the past fortnight may just about cover costs or, at best, will deliver a positive margin solely on the basis of their straw yields.

A key factor in the analysis equation for spring barley, is the cost of seed. It is now evident that growers committing to these crops now are doing so on the basis of seed bought last autumn.

Meanwhile, a question mark remains over the actual performance potential of the spring barley seed stocks that have been imported into Ireland over recent months.

Invariably, these varieties would have been grown in conditions totally different to those that exist in Ireland.

Irrespective of final grain yield, the jury is out on just how much straw these imported varieties can produce under Irish conditions.

However, the bigger picture is equally concerning for the tillage sector.

Official data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has revealed the rate at which cereal production declined in 2023, with the production of the three main cereals – wheat, barley and oats, all back.

As part of its recent Area, Yield and Production of Crops 2023 update, the CSO notes that wheat, barley and oats yield also dropped by 1.4t/ha (-12.8%), 1.3t/ha (-16.1%) and 1.5t/ha (-17.9%), respectively when the 2023 and 2022 production years are compared.

The CSO statistics also reports on the areas under crops. When compared with 2022, the area under cereals dropped by 16,300ha or 5.7% to 269,400ha, with the largest decrease observed for winter barley, which was down by 20,800ha (-28.2%).

The area under cereals decreased in 2023 despite an increase of 16,900ha for spring barley (+14.5%) and an increase of 4,200ha for spring oats (+32.1%).

Additionally, the area under potatoes fell by 300ha (-3.3%) to 8,200ha in comparison with 2022, while the area under beans and peas rose by 5,400ha to 16,200 ha (+50.0%) in 2023.

Oilseed rape area was also up from 15,800ha in 2022 to 21,600ha in 2023 (+36.9%), the CSO statistics reveal.

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The Irish Grain Growers Group (IGGG) has called for the Food Vision Tillage Group to continue functioning to ensure the implementation of its final report, which was published today (Tuesday, May 14).

Bobby Miller, the chair of the IGGG, told Agriland that the group does not want “another report sitting on a desk”.

The Food Vision Tillage Group report is the third of three Food Vision reports that have been published across different sectors.

The Food Vision Dairy Group report, and the Food Vision Beef and Sheep Group report, have both been published over the course of the last two years.

This latest report on tillage contains 28 recommendations grouped into 10 policy areas.

Miller said that the IGGG – a member of the Food Vision Tillage Group – had recommended that the group continue to function even after the publication of the report to that its implementation could be monitored.

“The stakeholder group needs to ensure that this report is acted on, and on of the recommendations from the IGGG was that the group keeps functioning as a group to make sure the recommendations are being implemented.

“We don’t want another report sitting on a desk,” he added.

Responding to the report, the IGGG chairperson called for Irish-produced grain to be held in the same regard as dairy and meat produced here.

“We need a structure put in place so that native Irish grain is recognised via policy and regulation. We just cannot have the current situation ongoing, where native Irish grain is treated the very same as imported by-products from all around the world,” Miller said.

“We do need to get specific recognition for native Irish grain, and the sooner the better. That will hopefully lead to a premium being paid for native Irish grain,” he added.

He also called for the development of the plant-based sector here as an outlet for Irish grain.

“There’s enough research done at this stage. It’s time for investment in processing facilities. The markets are there, the customers are there, but there is no supply. Obviously there is a vacuum there that the tillage industry could quite easily step into in regard to the protein end of the house.”

In terms of financial security, the tillage farmer called for government and industry to “kick-start” crop insurance measures to protect growers.

Irish Grain Growers Group

Miller also said that the drinks industry required further development as an outlet for Irish grain.

“We need to escape from producing grain specifically for the feed market. We need to be supplying primary processing, and then having the by-product available for the feed industry.

“We’re competing with by-product from around the world and that’s not a goof place to be to secure the future of the tillage sector,” he added.

He acknowledged that the sector’s carbon footprint needed to be reduced, but called for financial support to make that happen.

“We recognise as a group that it’s an area we need to improve on but we need schemes or programmes put in a place to support,” Miller said.

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The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has called for the recommendations of the Food Vision Tillage Group report to be implemented by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue.

The Food Vision Tillage Group was set up by Minister McConalogue in May 2023 to set out a roadmap for the growth and development of the sector between now and 2030.

Speaking following the publication of the group’s report today (Tuesday, May 14), IFA Grain Committee chair Kieran McEvoy has said that the release of the report is “welcome, nearly one year since the process started”.

“It’s vital that actions identified in the report are implemented swiftly to prevent terminal damage to the tillage sector,” he added.

“Tillage farmers have faced a perfect storm since summer 2023, with falling grain prices; input costs remaining high; loss of rented land; and heavy rainfall right up until the middle of April this year.

“Thankfully, the weather has improved in recent weeks, but the delay in planting this spring will hit tillage incomes hard in 2024.”

The IFA chair has said that while the government has pledged to support the tillage sector, actions speak louder than words, and has urged the department to financially support growers.

IFA had previously proposed a €250/ha, five-year payment for tillage farmers.

“The €100/ha tillage payment announced by Minister McConalogue in March is a step forward in addressing the need for immediate financial support for the sector in 2024, but details on the scheme must be agreed and finalised by the department urgently,” McEvoy continued.

“It is welcome to see the report identify the urgent need for actions to drive preferential use of native feed grains and facilitate the movement of organic manure onto tillage farms.”

Minister on tillage group report

Meanwhile, Minister McConalogue has said the report published today is quite detailed and comprehensive.

He has tasked his officials with putting a plan in place to oversee the implementation of the strategy.

“[It] identifies opportunities that will improve the efficiency and long-term competitiveness of the sector along with actions that will allow the sector to further improve its environmental footprint,” the minister said.

The report has recommended that an immediate financial support package be put in place for the sector for the 2024 growing season. This is one of 28 recommendations outlined in the report.

Minister McConalogue said: “I would like to thank the members of the group for their work in compiling the report over the last 12 months.

“A vibrant and sustainable tillage sector is hugely important in increasing our food and feed security while also contributing to our climate change objectives.

“I am very aware of the challenges faced by tillage growers this year, and in response I announced last month my commitment to seek a €100/ha payment for field crops planted for this year’s harvest.

“I am committed to the sector and its importance within the wider agricultural industry, and I want to put the sector on a firm footing into the future,” he concluded.

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The final report of the Food Vision Tillage Group has recommended that an immediate financial support package be put in place for the sector for the 2024 growing season.

This is one of 28 recommendations outlined in the report, the finalised version of which has been published by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) today (Tuesday, May 14).

The support for the 2024 growing season would recognise the current significant challenges facing the sector, and prevent a loss in tillage area.

The recommendation did not outline a monetary value of any such support, but said that an identification of a funding source was a key factor to consider.

According to the report, funding in the order of €60 million/year for five years would be needed to pursue the recommendations in the report and to achieve a target of 400,000ha under tillage by 2030, which would reflect the financial loss to the sector in direct income payments under the current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

The Food Vision Tillage Group report is the third of three Food Vision reports that have been published across different sectors.

The Food Vision Dairy Group report, and the Food Vision Beef and Sheep Group report, have both been published over the course of the last two years.

These groups and their reports are offshoots of Food Vision 2030, Ireland’s agri-food strategy to 2030, which puts a focus on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction and environmental measures.

This latest report on tillage contains 28 recommendations grouped into 10 policy areas.

Those policy areas are: tillage supports; availability and access to land; adding value; availability and sustainable use of plant protection products; risk management; environmental sustainability; research, education and advice; competitiveness and efficiency; anaerobic digestion; and organic tillage.

Under the tillage supports heading, four recommendations are made, one of which is the aforementioned immediate support for the 2024 growing season (recommendation 2).

The other recommendations in the area of supports are:

• Recommendation 1 – Introduction of a Tillage Expansion and Sustainability Scheme to replace the Tillage Incentive Scheme, in order to provide longer-term support with an environmental focus;
• Recommendation 3 – Examining existing supports for tillage farmers:
  • Optimising the budget for the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM), taking account of the 2030 target for straw incorporation of 55,000ha and the need to balance the scheme’s ambition for soil health benefits with demand for straw from the livestock and mushroom sectors;
  • Seeking to extend EU supports for the production of protein crops beyond the current CAP;
  • Examining opportunities for extending the range of investments under the Tillage Capital Investment Scheme (TCIS) under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS);
  • Examining the impact of support measures on the evolving economic viability of the sector;
• Recommendation 4 – Developing industry-led initiatives that support the economic and environmental sustainability of tillage growers:
  • Developing industry sustainability initiatives that drive positive sustainability actions on tillage farms;
  • Sharing of added value from sustainability across the supply chain, starting with the grower.

These first four recommendations, along with three others, are classed as “priority actions” for either immediate or short-term implementation by government.

The other three priority actions are as follows:

• Recommendation 5 – Facilitating and encouraging the exchange of organic manure between livestock and tillage farmers by tasking the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group to develop proposals to facilitate an increase in the transfer of organic manure to tillage farms;
• Recommendation 9 – Driving the preferential use of Irish feed grain and protein, and exploiting opportunities for value-added Irish feed:
  • Carrying out an analysis to establish the impact of using Irish-produced feed on the sustainability of the livestock sectors;
  • Bord Bia developing additional sustainable sourcing criteria for auditing at feed mills under the Bord Bia quality assurance scheme for feed;
  • Publicising relevant independent research confirming the nutritional and sustainability value of Irish feed ingredients across the feed industry;
• Recommendation 20 – Ensuring the sustainable and safe use of wastewater and other industrial sludges and bio-based fertilisers to agricultural land:
  • Making the spreading of wastewater/sludges on tillage land conditional on effective controls and good practices during production, and only when spreading does not pose a risk to feed or food safety;
  • Department to engage with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review management and oversight of sludges being applied to land, with supports to be considered to facilitate the required changes.

The full suite of 28 recommendations are outlined below:

• Tillage supports:
  • Recommendation 1 – Introduce a Tillage Expansion and Sustainability Scheme;
  • Recommendation 2 – Put in place an immediate financial support package for the sector for the 2024 growing season;
  • Recommendation 3 – Examine existing supports for tillage farmers, including young farmers;
  • Recommendation 4 – Develop industry-led initiatives that support the economic and environmental sustainability of tillage growers;
• Availability and access to land:
  • Recommendation 5 – Facilitate and encourage exchange of organic manure between livestock and tillage farmer;
  • Recommendation 6 – Consider the impact of solar farm development on the availability of land suitable for tillage;
  • Recommendation 7 – Explore innovative taxation measures to support the low-emission tillage sector;
• Adding value:
  • Recommendation 8 – Align the Irish Grain Assurance Scheme with Origin Green;
  • Recommendation 9 – Drive the preferential use of Irish feed grain and protein and exploit opportunities for value added Irish feed;
  • Recommendation 10 – Strengthen industry and grower links and continue support for research and early-stage product development focusing on the use of Irish grown crops in the drinks sector;
  • Recommendation 11 – Continue support for Irish research and early-stage product development focusing on increasing the use of Irish grown crops in the food sector and bioeconomy;
  • Recommendation 12 – Continue supports for the marketing of Irish drink and plant-based food products;
  • Recommendation 13 – Commission research on the potential for an oilseed crops processing industry in Ireland;
  • Recommendation 14 – Explore opportunities for developing a premium milling industry;
  • Recommendation 15 – Increase participation of tillage farmers in producer organisations;
• Availability and sustainable use of plant protection products:
  • Recommendation 16 – Develop integrated pest management approaches and support their adoption at farm level;
• Risk management:
  • Recommendation 17 – Promote existing risk management tools and examine opportunities for an Irish model of crop/price insurance;
• Environmental sustainability:
  • Recommendation 18 – Support the sector in minimising the loss of nutrients from arable land;
  • Recommendation 19 – Continue to improve the environmental footprint of tillage farms;
  • Recommendation 20 – Ensure the sustainable and safe use of wastewater and other industrial sludges and bio-based fertilisers to agricultural land;
• Research, education and advice:
  • Recommendation 21 – Promote tillage as a career choice for students;
  • Recommendation 22 – Provide adequate advisory support services to Irish growers to improve production efficiency and environmental sustainability;
• Competitiveness and efficiency:
  • Recommendation 23 – Ensure the highest quality seed of new and improved varieties are available to Irish farmers;
  • Recommendation 24 – Exploit opportunities for improved crop varieties through new breeding techniques;
  • Recommendation 25 – Adopt measures to control and prevent the spread of grass weeds on Irish tillage farms;
  • Recommendation 26 – Provide greater recognition and support for agricultural contractors recognising the important services they provide to the tillage sector;
• Anaerobic digestion:
  • Recommendation 27 – Exploit opportunities for the tillage sector from anaerobic digestion;
• Organic tillage:
  • Recommendation 28 – Exploit opportunities for growing the organic tillage sector.

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Teagasc has confirmed the benefits of rolling spring barley and wheat crops and three factors come into play.

Rolling encourages tillering, while also putting down stones below ground level and conserving moisture.

Teagasc tillage specialist, Shay Phelan told Agriland: “I would not hesitate in rolling spring barley crops at the present time, assuming they are at the right growth stage.

“The process will act to restrict apical dominance within the main shoot and also allow more light to get in to the lower parts of the crop. This, in turn, encourages side tillers to develop.”

Phelan made these comments while attending a crops walk hosted by Bertie and Martin Ennis on their north Dublin farm in recent days.

Rolling spring barley and wheat

According to the Teagasc representative, the key factor to be considered when considering the option of rolling is the root structure of the growing plants.

“If the roots are strong enough then I would not hesitate. Growers should particularly check plants growing on headlands. These are the areas where the action of the roller could pull out young plants.

“There is not the same urgency, where spring wheat is concerned. But here, again, I would strongly urge growers to roll these crops, if ground conditions permit.

“The plants will bounce back up to the vertical within days. Rolling is an option in all crops prior to them reaching the stage of stem extension.”

Shay Phelan also pointed out that rolling spring barley can also have a form of plant growth regulator (PGR) effect on crops.

“It can be difficult to get PGR timings correct with spring barely crops. A number of earlier sown spring barley crops in the south of the country were rolled last week,” he explained.

“Plant counts in these crops are coming in at between 200 and 220/m².

“These are quite low. So rolling should act to give these crops their best possible yield opportunity. The target number should be in the region of 1,000 shoots/m².”

Phelan added that we are currently looking at a scenario of individual barley plants producing 4.5 tillers each and that they will not achieve this target naturally.

Tillering is equally important in spring wheat crops.

“Spring wheat produces quite short ears. So the target is to produce lots of tillers, in order to maximise yield potential,” Phelan continued.

“Rolling will help to achieve this. The aim is to produce a very thick crop which, in turn, will deliver the highest possible yields.”

Spring wheat planted by Bertie and Martin Ennis on April 19, had produced 250 plants/m² up to this point.

According to Shay Phelan, the potential to get between 750 to 800 total shoots per square metre, on the back of subsequent tillering, will be more than feasible.

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A weighbridge facility is set to be available for use by local farmers once it has been built, according to a Wicklow county councillor.

Wicklow County Council has proposed to undertake the development of a weighbridge facility to the southeast of junction 19 on the M11.

The proposed development comprises a new entrance from the R772 to a weighbridge facility including a weighbridge and a weighbridge admin building.

Councillor Sylvester Bourke told Agriland that he sought an amendment to be made that the weighbridge would be available to local farmers who want to use it for their own produce, by appointment.

This proposed amendment was seconded at an Arklow municipal district meeting on May 8 and then “unanimously” adopted, Bourke explained.

The weighbridge, the councillor explained, will be available “on a needs basis by prior arrangement” to local farmers.

A tillage farmer himself, Bourke said “a lot of farmers” would not have a weighbridge, adding that he priced one at €25,000, but that under Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes (TAMS 3), farmers could apply for grant aid for one.

The addition of the weighbridge in the area would make it easier for “farmers selling livestock by weight or produce by weight” in using the facility he added.

Weighbridge facility

The weighbridge facility is to include seven on-site parking spaces, public lighting, landscaped areas and drainage systems for both surface water and foul water including all associated ancillary works.

In accordance with Article 120 (1) (b) (i) of the planning and development regulations 2001 (as amended), Wicklow County Council have concluded following the completion of an environmental impact assessment screening report that there is no real likelihood of significant effects on the environment arising from the proposed development and that an environmental impact assessment is not required.

In accordance with the provisions of Article 250 (1) of the planning and development regulations 2001 (as amended), Wicklow County Council has carried out a screening of the proposed development to assess, in view of best scientific knowledge, if the development, individually or in combination with other plans or projects, would be likely to have a significant effect on a European site.

Accordingly, Wicklow County Council has determined that the proposed development would not be likely to have a significant effect on any European site and that therefore, an appropriate assessment of the proposed development is not required.

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Getting on with fieldwork as quickly as possible is the key priority now confronting those tillage farmers with spring cereal crops in the ground.

This was one of the key themes addressed at the recent crops walk, hosted by Bertie and Martin Ennis on their north Dublin farm.

The list of jobs to tackle includes: Rolling; spraying for barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV); controlling weeds; applying nitrogen (N); applying trace elements; adding a plant growth regulator (PGR); controlling wild oats; and implementing a disease control programme.

“It all adds up to a lot of work to be completed within a very short period of time,” confirmed Teagasc tillage specialist, Shay Phelan.

Spring cereal crops

One of the points brought up at the event was the nitrogen requirement of spring barley crops grown from imported seed.

According to Shay Phelan, growers should err on the side of caution, where this matter is concerned.

“We don’t know how these varieties will react to Irish growing conditions, particularly from a lodging perspective,” Phelan said.

“So, it might be best to ease back on the total amount of nitrogen applied.”

It was confirmed at the event that magnesium deficiency has been identified on a number of spring crops drilled this year.

Growers are being advised to be on the lookout for this issue. It can be easily resolved by including epsom salts within a spray tank mix.

Controlling wild oats in spring cereals was another of the issues discussed at the farm walk. Tackling this matter at as early a stage as possible in the development of the crop was strongly advised.

Recently sown spring cereal crops are going through their growth stages very quickly at the present time.

And, again, this is another reason for tillage farmers to stay on top of the fieldwork required to manage these crops in the most efficient way possible.

Syngenta’s Frank McGauran attended the crop walk. He confirmed that wild oats should be tackled at the same time as the standard herbicide mix is applied.

“Some people suggest that the challenge of wild oats should be addressed once all plants have germinated,” McGauran said.

“But this could take forever, given the fact that some wild oats are germinating from very significant depths within the soil. The time to deal with wild oats is now.”

When mixed with sulfonyl urea herbicides, Axial PRO can be applied at a rate of 0.6L/ha to crops at growth stage 29/

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The Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) has confirmed that winter wheat crops are in a very poor state across England, Scotland and Wales.

Courtesy of its most recent crop update, the organisation pointed out that, nationally, the wheat crop is in one of its poorest states in recent times – for this stage of the year.

Winter wheat has suffered from an unsatisfactory crop establishment and overwintered in very wet soil conditions.

These have led to root damage and some plant rot. Many fields are very gappy, while others were either never drilled or have been written off.

Wheat crops in various locations

The worst crops are in the midland areas, stretching from Gloucestershire to Lincolnshire and parts of East Anglia and Yorkshire.

In other parts of the UK, particularly the south of England, north of England and Scotland winter wheat crops, are in better condition.

Crops on free-draining chalks and sandy soils are reasonable to good.

According to AHDB, wheat development in the UK is now in two groups – crops on lighter land where fieldwork has been possible and those on heavier/colder soils, which are considerably behind where they should be.

These heavier soils remain waterlogged or only recently machinery has been able to travel on them. Overall, yield in 2024 is likely to be noticeably lower than usual.

Nationally, 45% of winter wheat is rated as in a good or excellent condition. This is up from the end of March (34%) but still significantly below last April’s 88%.

Crop development

Meanwhile, there is considerable in-field variation for both winter and spring crop development. Compaction and water logging are clearly evident.

Some crops are quite forward, where others struggle following water logging and cold weather. April saw additional fields have been written off and replaced with a spring crop, where possible.

Crops in northern England and Scotland, while behind their usual stage of growth by now, are generally looking well.

Nitrogen (N) has been applied to almost all winter wheat. Most crops, especially on the freer-draining soils, have received second N application.

In general, crops have responded well with a deepening of colour, and spurt in leaf growth, according to the AHDB.

Disease

Some growers reported that one day in 10 was suitable for spraying in April and access remained a problem. Inevitably, fieldwork is way behind where it should be. Some growers missed their first (T0) fungicide application.

For others, the T1 fungicide applications are being applied, or soon will be, where crops are sufficiently developed and leaf 3 is fully emerged. Some have combined the two applications together.

Septoria is abundant on lower leaves in the wetter areas, particularly in the light of the spray problems already incurred earlier in the season. It is excessive in some regions, such as northern and western England.

The weather from now on will dictate the level of attack the crop is exposed to.

Eyespot is an issue in the Midlands and, for some varieties, if combined with poor rooting, could cause lodging in the better crops.

Yellow and brown rusts have also been seen in parts. Yellow rust is prevalent particularly in the Midlands and east on varieties like Skyfall, and surprisingly is also evident on resistant varieties like Extase.

On other varieties, it will be a continuation of protective measures. Yellow rust has also been spread easily with windy conditions.

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Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) is running rampant through winter and spring cereal crops nationwide, according to Teagasc crops specialist, Shay Phelan.

Phelan spoke about the risk of the virus spreading further at a Teagasc Crop Walk, held in north Co. Dublin yesterday (Friday, May 10).

While research is ongoing, Teagasc is unsure how the disease-causing aphids are getting on to crops in the first place.

“Suction traps in places like Teagasc Oak Park had not caught significant numbers of flying aphids over recent months.

“So this leaves open the possibility of grain aphides physically walking through fields and/or over wintering on individual cereal plants,” Phelan said.

This type of behaviour on the part of the aphids has not been recognised up to this point, according to Phelan.

“BYDV is very apparent in spring and winter cereal crops south of Dublin.

“The possibility of a similar scenario being the case across the rest of the country is very real,” Phelan said.

“In reality, we are talking about a very fluid situation, which will be a key focus of new research within Teagasc,” he added.

BYDV

According to Teagasc, BYDV can have differing levels of crop impact with yield losses of up to 80% possibility.

However, this would only be in the case of very severe infections. The average loss figure is in the region of 30%.

In the meantime, cereal growers are being advised by Teagasc to spray any spring barley and wheat crops with an insecticide as a “matter of priority”.

“The best time to put on an insecticide is when crops are the four-leaf stage.

“One application of an active product will suffice. The insecticide should be applied at full label rates,” Phelan said.

In-crop monitoring is essential before an insecticide is applied to check if aphids are present.

Growers should inspect headlands first, because aphids are three times more likely to land near headlands than further out the field.

The risk periods for BYDV infection coincide with milder temperatures and the associated migration or reproduction of aphids.

Normally, earlier sown crops are at the highest risk of infection and it is difficult to avoid insecticide application in these scenarios.

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Approximately 35% of the 2024 maincrop potato area has now been planted out, according to Wilson’s Country agronomist, Stuart Meredith.

“This figure takes account of growers across the island of Ireland,” he told Agriland.

Co. Armagh-based Wilson’s Country is supplying potatoes to retail and catering customers throughout Ireland. The business has a grower base, which meets this requirement.

“It has been a very slow start to the maincrop planting season. The continuous rain of the past six months has meant that it is only now that ground conditions are coming into shape,” the agronomist continued.

“However, the weather is set fair for the next few days, which will allow growers to get on with much needed field work.”

Potato seed

Seed availability is another challenge that has been confronting potato growers over recent weeks.

“This is a reflection of the very poor crops that were harvested last year. In addition, growers are currently planting seed that has been graded on the basis of a higher size specification,” Meredith continued.

“So, instead of using seed in the range 35mm to 55mm, growers are planting tubers that are 60mm in size. One direct impact of this will be the fact that seed stocks may not go as far as would normally be the case.

“It’s a fundamental fact – larger seed sizes do not travel as far as smaller tubers. So we may well see some growers not having enough seed to cover all the ground they had originally earmarked for potatoes this year,” he added.

Varieties

Meanwhile, the push to introduce new potato varieties continues apace.

“For the most part, the focus will remain on the well established varietal mix,” Meredith explained.

“But in our own case, we are looking at a number of new options. A case in point is Efera. It can be used for both the packing trade and as a processing variety.”

Looking ahead, the agronomist is aware of the problems posed by the arrival of new blight strains in Ireland and the challenge they will create for the range of fungicides currently available to growers.

“Growers have access to very effective blight chemistries,” he confirmed.

“But timing of application will be critically important in 2024. In practical terms, this will mean spraying crops at seven-day intervals throughout the growing season.

“This will be particularly important over the coming weeks as crops go through their growth phases very quickly. Soft tissue growth within an expanding canopy will be very prone to blight attack,” he concluded.

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The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprises (CAFRE) has issued a crop management update, covering cereals and potatoes.

Crops specialist, Leigh McClean, said: “Frustratingly, spring weather has limited opportunities to get spray and fertiliser applied at the ideal time.

“T1 fungicides will likely have gone on later than planned for most winter crops. Keep an eye on crop growth stage and aim to apply T2 sprays at the correct time, even if the interval from T1 is shorter than usual.

“Growers should have products and plans in place to spray when the time and conditions are right, protecting what yield potential that exists.”

CAFRE

Where winter barley crops are concerned, the CAFRE advice is to target crops with T2 sprays when the flag leaf and the first few awns have emerged.

Best control of the main yield robbing barley diseases, rhynchosporium, net blotch and ramularia is achieved with a mix of active ingredients, rather than straight products alone.

Turning to winter wheat, McClean said that a well timed T2 fungicide gives a bigger yield response in these crops than any other spray timing.

AHDB fungicide trials have shown that the active ingredients mefentrifluconazole (Revysol) or fenpicoxamid (Inatreq) give best septoria control and may be worth the extra spend at T2, particularly for high yield potential crops under high disease pressure.

Where yellow rust is an issue, benzovindiflupyr and prothioconazole (Elatus Era) are particularly effective, but all good mixtures perform well.

According to the CAFRE crops specialist, in order to maximise current and future efficacy of cereal fungicides, growers must minimise the risk of resistant disease strains developing.

Practical steps include following label advice on applications per season, only using products where necessary, keeping up dose rates of actives in mixes and always using in combination with a multisite fungicide, like Folpet, to protect other active ingredients in the mix.

Spring crops

CAFRE is confirming that almost all spring sowing is late this year.

Generally, warmer temperatures and longer daylight hours from now on means that crops growing into the ground will now develop faster than those drilled earlier in the season.

According to McClean: “If the chance for pre-emergent herbicide in spring cereals has passed, then growers should apply a mix of at least two broad-spectrum herbicides, ideally when weeds are at the two-four leaf stage.

“Tank mixing a low rate fungicide will prevent disease becoming established and protect yield potential.”

 Nitrogen (N) top dressings should be applied to spring cereals, once tramlines are visible, at the two-three leaf stage.

Once protein crops have emerged, they should be inspected for grass weeds and volunteers.

 If necessary, a graminicide (grass weed herbicide) should be applied once most grasses are through and before the crop canopy closes over.

Experience has shown that a fungicide to control chocolate spot, normally applied in mid-June, gives a yield response. However, it can keep crops green longer, delaying harvest.

McClean continued: “For late sown beans, growers should consider forgoing fungicide, sacrificing a little yield for the chance of an earlier harvest.”

Potatoes

With the rush to get potatoes into the ground, growers are being reminded to ensure they fully implement early  weed control measures.

“Where using pre-emergence herbicides, growers should check crop emergence regularly to ensure they are applied on time to avoid crop damage,” Leigh McClean commented.

 Whilst blight spraying may seem some time off at this stage, control of the disease starts now. Growers should minimise sources of infection by covering out grade piles and controlling ground keepers.

As this may be more challenging this spring given the area of unharvested potatoes from last year, vigilance is advised in this context.

McClean said: “Growers do not need reminding of the difficulties associated with blight control last year.

“Disease pressure was high and whilst growers largely succeeded in getting sprays on at the right intervals, blight control may have been compromised by the choice of product going into the tank. “

He continued: “Blight consists of a population of different strains which evolve year to year. Some strains have successfully developed resistance to certain groups of active ingredients, rendering them ineffective against those strains.

“In this context, advice for blight control has also evolved. Previously, spraying blocks of a product was deemed best practice. Now, growers are advised to alternate, not just products, but modes of action at every spray.

“Applying a single mode of action at any timing is now considered too big a risk, and two active ingredients should be in the mix at each blight spray application.”

McClean said that the “increasing complexity in compiling an effective blight spray programme means growers should consult their agronomist to develop a plan for the upcoming season.

“This should adhere to all product label requirements and protect the investment made in potato crops.”

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Malting company Boortmalt has announced a partnership with regenerative agriculture business Soil Capital as part of an effort to cut emissions from suppliers.

Boortmalt said that it is aiming to reduce emissions of its allocated barely supply across the world by 30% by 2030.

The partnership with Soil Capital targets ‘Scope 3’ emissions, which are emissions that are not produced directly or indirectly by a business, but that the business influences upstream or downstream, such as emissions from suppliers to that business.

In this case, Scope 3 emissions includes emissions from tillage growers supplying Boortmalt.

Scope 3 emissions differ from Scope 1 emissions (which result directly from a business’ own activities) and Scope 2 emissions (which result from the production of a business’ inputs, such as emissions from the production of energy supplied to the business by public or private utilities).

According to Boortmalt, the majority of its emissions come from its supply chain from producers and co-operatives supplying the barley used in its malting process.

The business said that its “commitment to support changes to farming practices and to enable carbon sequestration” requires strategies at farm level to maximise ground cover, replace synthetic inputs with organic ones, minimise soil disturbances, and diversify crop rotation.

Boortmalt CEO Yvan Schaepman said that regenerative agriculture is a “strong lever to cultivate sustainable produce”.

“But the task is huge, complex and involves various degrees of adaptations for our suppliers. With that idea in mind, we have entered into his partnership with Soil Capital to support the pace of adaptation and make a difference.”

Boortmalt said that Soil Capital , an agronomy firm specialising in regenerative agriculture, will help the malting giant with strategic advisory services to provide “on-the-ground” support for suppliers.

The partnership has a number of objectives for 2030, including: reducing Boortmalt’s Scope 3 emissions by 30%; reducing the carbon footprint of barley sourced by the malting business by 200,000t of CO2 equivalent; and increasing the proportion of barley sourced from regenerative farming.

CEO of Soil Capital, Chuck de Liedekerke said: “We are impressed by Boortmalt’s…strategy to reduce Scope 3 emissions by working hand-in-hand with their suppliers.

“We believe this is the right way to achieve the necessary transition at scale. By rewarding farmers’ work and improving supply chain resilience, we will ultimately drastically improve carbon emissions from Scope 3,” he added.

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Herbicide resistant meadow grasses could pose a threat to future weed control, according to Teagasc research scientist, Vijaya Bhaskar.

In a normal growing season, meadow grasses can be easily controlled in winter cereals with residual herbicides (eg., flufenacet or pendimethalin-based products).

And they have no significant impact on cereal yields, compared to other grass weeds.

But in recent years, some farms that have only used spring herbicide, or a one-product approach for grass-weed control in winter cereals have recorded instances of ineffective control of meadow grass.

Weed control

In 2023, Teagasc received resistance-suspect samples of five annual meadow grass and two roughstalk meadow grass populations from growers/advisors for testing.

Plants at the 2-4 leaf stage were subjected to detailed dose-response experiments with ACCase (Axial, Falcon, Stratos, Centurion) and ALS (Pacifica, Monolith) herbicides.

Currently, the registered herbicides for controlling annual meadow grass according to Teagasc, include ACCase-Centurion (used in winter oilseed rape) and ALS-Pacifica and Monolith (used in winter wheat).

The registered herbicides for controlling roughstalk meadow grass include ACCase-Foxtrot (used in wheat and barley) and ALS-Pacifica.

Other ACCase/ALS herbicide products do not claim meadow grass control or lack effectiveness as per their labels.

Meadow grasses

According to Bhaskar, annual meadow grass is naturally tolerant to some ACCase herbicides.

Teagasc has confirmed that all populations of annual meadow grass possess natural tolerance to the ACCase herbicides Axial, Falcon and Stratos. As a result, they are not controlled by them.

However the exception is the ACCase herbicide-Centurion, which provides effective control.

Teagasc trials have also looked at the impact of ALS-type grass-weed herbicides that are used to control meadow grasses.

Significantly, this work is showing that sensitive annual meadow grass was fully controlled by Pacifica and Monolith at a rate well below the recommended rate.

But both herbicides were ineffective in all five resistant populations of annual meadow grass.

In light of the recent meadow grass trial work, Teagasc has issued guidance.

Annual meadow grass is naturally tolerant to most ACCase (Axial, Falcon, Stratos) herbicides, except Centurion, while roughstalk meadow grass is sensitive to all ACCase herbicides.

In winter crops, it is not recommended to rely on spring applications of grass-weed products, typically aimed at bromes, for meadow grass control.

Residual herbicides applied pre-emergence or early post-emergence should be used to reduce the pressure on resistance development. 

Meadow grasses can succumb to resistance when single type high-risk herbicides are used as the sole method of weed control.

Fewer pre-emergence spray opportunities, and the ongoing wet weather will affect this season’s spring herbicide strategies, so Teagasc has said that it is crucial to use the right products and rates to achieve maximum efficacy.

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EU milk supply is expected to remain stable in 2024, while beef production is set to drop, according to a new report.

The European Commission’s spring edition of the short-term outlook for EU agricultural markets presents the latest trends and prospects for key sectors.

The report warns that the evolution of “geopolitical crises”, particularly in the Middle East, could impact on trade, prices and the overall economy which would place even more pressure on farmers.

The expectation of real economic growth in 2024 has been revised downwards due to falling household purchasing power, lower external demand and a partial withdrawal of fiscal support in 2023.

On the other hand, the commission said that inflation is expected to decline faster than previously predicted.

In terms of inputs, the report notes that energy costs dropped by 6% in the first three months of 2024 (Q1) compared to the previous quarter.

The cost of feed is down 1.5% and fertiliser prices were down 1%.

However, overall input prices remain largely above pre-Covid levels (32%) and up to 65% in the case of fertiliser.

The affordability of fertilisers has been improving as EU fertiliser production continues to recover.

Imports of nitrogen (N) fertiliser remain at historically high levels, but imports of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) decreased significantly, which could negatively impact overall soil fertility.

Dairy

The EU Commission is currently forecasting a slight increase (0.4%) in milk supply across the bloc, despite a continuing decline in the number of cows (-0.5% in 2024).

This assumption is based on “normal weather conditions”, raw milk prices remaining above historic levels (above 46 c/kg) and an increasing trend in EU milk yields.

The report noted that pasture conditions became “exceptionally difficult” in Ireland earlier this year.

The report states that EU cheese and whey production is likely to continue benefitting from higher milk solids availability and competitive prices, which could translate into a
further increase in exports.

A rise in milk powder exports is unlikely because of limited further growth potential in north Africa and the Middle East, while global competition may also increase.

Production of skim milk powder (SMP) is expected to remain stable, however domestic use could be impacted by the current surge in cocoa prices.

The report stated that butter exports could remain positive (+1.5%) based on competitive export prices.

The commission said that stabilising input and output prices could improve margins for dairy farmers in 2024, and EU dairy consumption could benefit from easing food inflation and remain stable overall.

Beef

EU beef production is expected to decrease by a further 2.3% in 2024, mainly due to “a continuing structural adjustment in the beef and dairy sector”.

EU beef production decreased in 2023 by 3.9%, which supported high prices. At the same time, the average carcass weight decreased by -0.6%.

Last year, beef production in Italy dropped by 17% (127,000t), while Ireland was back by 3.5%.

The December 2023 livestock survey, showed that the number of suckler cows in the EU declined for the fourth year in a row, by additional 160,000 head (-1.6%). Dairy cows recorded a decline of 344,000 head (-1.7%).

The number of male bovine cattle for slaughtering between 1 and 2 years, and above 2 years also decreased by -0.4% and -1.2% respectively.

However, the reported noted that “this lower beef supply could continue supporting EU beef producer prices”.

The expectation is that per capita beef consumption across the EU will drop by up to 3% this year.

Meanwhile, despite a slightly bigger sow herd, EU pigmeat production could go down slightly by -0.4% in 2024.

EU poultry production could benefit from a 1.7% growth this year, driven by positive market signals on both the supply and demand side.

The report said that the historically low EU sheep flock will reduce slaughterings by 4.9% in 2024.

Consumption is expected to suffer again this year (-3.5%) because of low availability and pressures from higher prices.

Crops

The report stated that 2024/25 EU cereal production could reach 278.5 million t (+3% year-on-year), which is 0.9% below the 5-year average.

This will be driven mainly by an expected increase in the area under maize, along with increasing yields of barley and durum wheat.

EU oilseed production in 2024/25 is expected to be at 33.2 million tonnes (+1.2% year-on-year), due to more cultivated area of soy beans, and an increase of rapeseed and sunflower yields.

The report noted that the the availability of protein crops in the EU could be historically high.

EU cereal prices continue to decline and are currently below the 5-year average, which will put additional strain on farmers’ margins.

2023/24 EU sugar production is estimated at 15.6 million tonnes, rebounding from the previous season and in line with the five-year average.

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Contractors play a key role on most tillage farms. This principle has been further endorsed during the spring 2024 planting season.

Two agricultural contractors discuss the spring planting season to-date on the Tillage Edge podcast – Patrick Nolan, from Athy, Co. Kildare and Padraig Noonan, from Connagh, Co. Cork.

Nolan provides a range of tillage related services, including the delivery of min-till and plough-based crop establishment.

He commented: “We also provide a baling service, grass and straw, while also putting out dung and chicken litter.”

Noonan provides a full tillage service plus silage and grass-reseeding services. “We work a lot with dairy farmers,” he explained.

Contractors’ perspective

Both contractors confirmed a backlog of work from last autumn.  

“In our case, only 50% of the intended crop area was sown out last autumn. However, the easing of the three-crop rule simplified matters a lot, once we got around to spring planting,” Padraig Noonan said.

“So instead of a grower, looking to plant out a mix of spring oats, spring wheat and spring barley, he had the option of pushing ahead with barley only.

“At this stage, we are nearly finished the spring setting. We got a very good run of weather. When the soil was right, we were able to make a lot of headway.”

Maize

Maize is the only spring crop that remains to be planted out by Noonan.

“It’s a bit more time consuming with the new plastic,” he commented.

“The output of the machine is back 25%. It’s a bit harder to get through the work. Our aim is to sow out 350ha of maize under plastic and a further 100ha without a cover.

“There is still a lot of ground not ploughed in our area. There will probably be a lot more maize going in this year. The question is – will these crops be planted out with plastic or not?”

Patrick Nolan also confirmed a large carryover of work from the back end of 2023.

“We only got between 45% and 50% of winter crops planted out. We carried that and we also gained work coming into the spring,” Nolan said.

“We are half way through our current work load. But we lost 40% of the land previously identified, most of which will go towards beet and maize.

“These are crops that we haven’t looked at as yet. Some guys have started considering these options. The trouble is, it’s still very cold at night.”

Forage crops

According to the Cork-based contractor, a number of factors are driving farmers to look at forage crops at the present time.

These include the reality that very few barley crops will meet the Boortmalt specification, the lateness of the season, the poor forward prices and the shortage of barley seed.

He further explained: “Things are also quite tight within tillage at the present time, given the fact that 2023 was such a challenging year.

“I really feel that tillage farmers do not want to grow late sown spring cereals on a  shoe string margin.”

Spring beans

Significantly, Patrick Nolan confirmed a significant increase in the area of spring beans sown out in his catchment area this year.

“We could be talking about an uplift in the region of 40%,” he commented.

“Spring wheat is not a popular crop for me, either as a farmer or contractor. As far as I can make out, anyone who would have traditionally sown the crop committed again in 2024.

“But I am not aware of any new spring wheat crops going in.”

Meanwhile, there are indications that the area of spring beans planed out in Co. Cork is up year-on-year.

“The protein payment looks more attractive this year than it ever did. So we could be looking at a 15% uplift in the area of beans planted in 2024,” Noonan continued.

“They were a crop that could be drilled when the weather was fair. We are talking about a big enough seed. So it was possible to set beans when it wasn’t possible to drill any other crop.

“In contrast, very little spring wheat was sown out in the Cork area. What I have noticed, however, is the fact that farmers are growing grain for fear of not having straw available to them,” he added.

Meanwhile, significant areas of land that would have traditionally been rented by tillage farmers have been taken by milk producers in 2024.

“Some of this ground will be earmarked for maize. But, for the most part, it will be put back into grass,” Padraig Noonan explained.

“In our case we do a lot of re-seeding work. At this stage of the year, we will always go in with the plough, although we do have a large disc.

“We find that ploughed ground dries out much faster, which allows the entire re-seeding process to be speeded up.”    

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Teagasc has confirmed that 90% of spring tillage planting work has now been completed in the south of the country and across the midlands.

However, this figure comes down to around 50% in the north-east.

Teagasc tillage specialist, Shay Phelan told Agriland: “Most growers have pushed ahead with spring barley. But in parts of the country farmers are putting in a mix of barley, oats and spring wheat.

“From here on in, barley becomes a very marginal crop, even on early sites.

“Growers committing to wheat at this stage will know that a late September harvest date will knock them out of sync when it comes to next autumn’s planting schedules.”

The seed rate for spring barley sown out now should be exceed 320 plants/m² with a large proportion of fertiliser nitrogen (N) incorporated into the seed bed.

Teagasc has indicated that most growers have managed to secure the barley seed they need up to this point. However, this scenario could change if there is a last minute rush for supplies over the coming days.

“The reality is that 2024 is turning out to be a very challenging year and tillage farmers have no option but to get on with the cards they have been dealt,” Phelan added.

Tillage crops for 2024

The Teagasc specialist is also predicting an increase in the area of forage crops grown this year.

“This will include maize, beet and red clover,” he confirmed.

“There is a payment available on red clover at the present time. The one issue that is critical to the growing of forage crops is the need to identify a final customer or customers prior to sowing out the crops.”

Turning to winter cereals, the Teagasc representative confirmed that many growers had used the recent dry spell of weather to catch up on field work.

“October-sown wheat crops are now at Leaf 3 stage. Where November plantings are concerned, this will happen over the coming days,” Phelan explained.

“Getting a fungicide spray on at this stage is critically important. In the case of early sown winter barley crops, many are at the awns peeping stage.

“They should receive their final fungicide treatment as soon as weather conditions permit.”

According to Shay Phelan, between 10% and 15% of the 2024 main crop potato crop has now been planted out.

“Growers are choosing their driest fields and pushing ahead as ground conditions permit,” he added.

Last month saw Teagasc highlight the arrival of new blight strains in Ireland that demonstrate relatively higher levels of resistance to fungicides.

In response to this worrying trend, Teagasc will be hosting a number of crops walks in late May and into early June.

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A new agronomy guide from BASF is confirming the heightened risk of take-all in winter barley crops, if they follow a first wheat.

This is an issue addressed by ADAS agronomist, Jonathan Blake, courtesy of his contribution to the publication.

Take-all infects cereal crops the first year they are grown, but is generally at non-yield damaging levels. The disease generally effects yield where susceptible crops are grown for two or more years in a row.

Winter barley crops grown in Ireland and the UK tend to be grown in the second ‘slot’, often after first wheats.

According to the ADAS agronomist, this second cereal situation tends to be where take-all pressure is highest. Barley is often sown in this rotational position, as it is more tolerant of take-all than wheat.

Spring barley can also be affected by take-all levels when sown after a susceptible crop.

Although levels will decline between the first cereal and the second because there is a bigger gap between the harvest of one and the sowing of the next, this is counterbalanced by spring barley rooting less extensively.

So, although take-all is at lower levels than in a winter crop, it can have a similarly significant effect.

Plants affected by take-all show black roots and black lesions on stem bases. The disease can occur in patches and leads to stunted plant growth, uneven ripening, and white heads.

In affected barley crops, yield losses can amount  to 0.5 t/ha.

The degree of yield loss due to take-all is severely impacted by weather factors. Rainfall is the key parameter.

A wet and mild winter, followed by a dry late spring and summer, is where the biggest effects of the disease are seen.

Wet winters, will limit root growth and allow the take-all pathogen to spread. A dry, late spring will potentially have a dire effect on barley, as the restricted rooting will prevent adequate water and nutrient uptake.

Extending the rotation

Blake points out that varietal tolerance and chemical options for take-all are limited, so, reducing the severity and impact is largely dependent on cultural control approaches.

Extending the rotation is the most effective way to manage take-all.

The longer the period prior to planting of barley, where a non take-all host crop has been grown, the less take-all you will have in that first barley crop.

According to the ADAS agronomist, growing barley in first cereal situations can be a win-win situation.

This will reduce take-all and lead to higher yields. In crops grown for malting, this can be significant as higher yields will dilute grain nitrogen (N), a key parameter for this crop.

Take-all is affected by soil type and risk can vary within a soil series. Light soils, either because they are better suited to the pathogen, or that they are more likely to suffer from drought effects that take-all can cause, tend to be most affected by the disease.

Growers should, therefore, ensure soil pH is appropriate to the barley crop so that it can grow effectively.

N should be applied earlier to crops in a take-all risk situation than to crops sown in ‘first slots’.

Applying N early encourages early growth so plant roots can explore the soil more effectively, which will reduce the impact of take-all as will ensuring indices of phosphorus and potash are conducive to good early growth.

Also, greater soil fertility tends to reduce the impact of the disease.

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The most recent update from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed another drop in winter wheat crop ratings.

However, according to the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB), the figure is marginal with 49% of winter wheat currently rated in ‘good-to-excellent’ condition; down 1% from the previous week.

However, it should be noted that this figure remains the highest for the time of year since 2020.

In 2023, winter wheat condition scores for the same week were 28% good-to-excellent, 21% lower than the current rating. Additionally, 19% of last year’s crop was rated very poor, compared to just 5% this year.

Reports of drought have expanded across the US winter wheat belt, with growing worries regarding its impact on crop condition and yield.

The USDA reported last week that 30% of US winter wheat was located within areas currently with some degree of drought as of April 23. This is up from 24% in the previous week and 18% two weeks previously.

The US drought monitor showed that in the top producing state, Kansas, 65% of the state was going through a period of drought, albeit moderate. This was up from 53% the week prior.

Winter wheat harvest

The winter wheat harvest is expected to begin next month in the southern states of the US.

Some rain is forecast over the next week, however the exact level remains to be seen. Soil moisture levels and temperature will be crucial as more winter wheat crops approach their reproductive stages.

At the present time, 30% of winter wheat in the US has ears fully emerged, up from 17% last week and the 9% above the average for 2019-2023.

The exact scale of impact that current weather conditions are having in key wheat-producing countries is currently unknown.

The International Grains Council (IGC) expects a global surplus of grains in 2024/2025, though the margin for error is small and wheat stocks are low.

It will be important to continue to watch weather conditions in key producers in the weeks ahead.

Two weeks ago, the IGC cut 2023/2024 global grain production by 3.5Mt due to the impact of rising disease and drought stress in parts of the southern hemisphere on maize output.

Meanwhile, stronger wheat demand in India is the main factor pushing up the global grain demand estimate.

The changes mean a sharper fall in 2023/2024 carry-out stocks than forecast in March, which would reduce the ‘cushion’ to any production issues in 2024/2025.

In total, global grain stocks at the end of 2023/2024 are projected 8.4Mt lower than the IGC’s March report, with a 3.6Mt fall for wheat and a 4.8Mt fall for maize.

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The benchmark for world food commodity prices edged higher in April, as rising meat prices and modest upticks for vegetable oils and cereals more than offset decreases for sugar and dairy products, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) reported today (Friday, May 3).

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a set of globally-traded food commodities, averaged 119.1 points in April.

This was up by 0.3% from its revised March level, while down 9.6% from the same month in 2023.

FAO Food Price Index

The FAO Cereal Price Index rose 0.3% from March, ending a three-month declining trajectory.

The report said that global wheat export prices stabilised in April as strong competition among major exporters offset concerns about unfavorable crop conditions in parts of the EU, Russia and the US.

Maize export prices increased, influenced by high demand amid mounting logistical disruptions as a result of infrastructure damages in Ukraine and concerns about the production in Brazil ahead of the main harvest.

The FAO All-Rice Price Index declined by 1.8%, due largely to falls in Indica quotations driven by harvest pressure.

The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index also increased by 0.3% from March, reaching a 13-month high, as higher quotations for sunflower and rapeseed oil offset slightly lower prices for palm and soy oil.

The FAO Meat Price Index increased by 1.6% in April from the previous month, as international poultry, bovine and ovine meat prices all rose.

World pig meat prices fell marginally, reflecting slack internal demand in western Europe and persistently lacklustre demand from leading importers, especially China.

The FAO Sugar Price Index declined 4.4% from March to stand 14.7% below its April 2023 level due to improved global supply prospects.

The FAO Dairy Price Index decreased marginally, by 0.3%, ending six consecutive months of increases.

This was driven by sluggish spot import demand for skim milk powder and by lower world cheese prices, impacted by the strengthening of the US dollar.

The report noted that world butter prices increased amid steady import demand.

Wheat forecast

FAO has also slightly risen its forecast for the world total cereal production in 2023 to 2.8 billion tonnes, a 1.2% increase from the previous year.

The revision in new Cereal Supply and Demand Brief primarily reflects new information from Myanmar and Pakistan.

The forecast for world cereal utilisation was increased to 2.82 billion tonnes, mostly reflecting higher than previously anticipated feed use of maize and barley.

World cereal stocks are forecast to end the 2024 seasons at 890 million tonnes, a 2.1% increase from the outset of the year, pointing to a worldwide cereal stocks-to-use ratio of 30.9%.

FAO also adjusted its forecast for global wheat production in 2024, now standing at 791 million tonnes, less than previously expected but still marking an increase of 0.5% from 2023.

For coarse grain crops, the main harvest period begins soon in southern hemisphere countries, and recent adverse weather conditions have curbed yield prospects in leading producer countries, notably Brazil and South Africa.

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The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is considering the next steps, including the state aid and other approvals for potato farmers this year.

After months of continued wet weather conditions, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue told the Dáil that DAFM is “deeply committed to safeguarding” the Irish potato sector.

“The recent wet weather caused a delay in the planting of potatoes this season.

“It is estimated that only 10-15% of the intended plantings of early potatoes were sown due to poor weather conditions,” he added.

Minister McConalogue said that as planting is now “well underway” for both second earlies and main crop potatoes, the department will continue to closely monitor the situation.

Potato farmers

Despite challenges, Minister McConalogue said that less than 3.6% of the overall planted area for potatoes remained in the ground at the beginning of March 2024. 

He said that potato farmers are supported through the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS).

The minister also recently announced that his department would work to deliver a €100/ha payment for every farmer that puts seed in the soil for the harvest year 2024.

This was to give confidence to tillage and horticulture farmers for the year and for their sectors.

He said that the current settled spell of weather has improved soil trafficability and there has been a return to more normal spring work.

“Nevertheless, I am very mindful of the impact of the prolonged exceptional weather conditions in 2024 on the potato sector,” the minister said.

“I am committed to our potato sector and despite the constraints of my existing budget, I will work to deliver this support for these farmers,” he added.

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With many tillage farmers way behind on crop spraying and spring drilling schedules, the pressure is on to catch up when conditions allow.

This is where the right adjuvant could play an invaluable role.

Technical manager at Interagro, Stuart Sutherland, said:

“Timing of crop protection sprays is crucial to get effective results, and with warmer days on the horizon, we can expect crops, weeds and diseases to all take off, especially where spray timings are already compromised.”

Interagro is a specialist manufacturer of adjuvants, supplying both the Irish and UK markets.

Suboptimal field conditions remain in many fields however. And unsettled weather may continue to hamper timings and effective application.

“This is where adjuvant technology could be extremely beneficial, delivering on three key areas.

“Adjuvants are specifically designed to help overcome the challenges that threaten growers’ ability to spray and compromise crop protection efficacy.

“This season in particular, could offer real practical benefits when it comes to complex tank-mixing and buying more spraying hours. This is where the right adjuvant will make all the difference, and Kantor from Interagro ticks that box well,” he said.

Complex tank mixing

Given the very short window of opportunity that growers now have to get on with field work, up to 13 active ingredients are being placed into spray tank mixes on some farms across the country at the present time.

The chemistries involved may well include herbicides, fungicides, plant growth promoters, foliar applied fertilisers and biostimulants of one form or another.

Here, caution is required, as certain formulations can be tricky to mix together, such as wettable powders and emulsifiable concentrates.

Suhterland continued: “Cold water, low water volume spraying, high pH, and hard water, all make the mixing process more challenging, and adding any more than three products into the tank, increases the risk of incompatibility.

“As well as ensuring products are compatible and best practice is followed, incorporating a compatibility adjuvant can be added to the tank mixture to improve the compatibility of the different products.

He explained that these adjuvants typically work by “modifying the physical and chemical properties of the tank mixture, ensuring that the various components remain stable and well-dispersed throughout the spraying process”.

“The use of tank-mix compatibility adjuvants can help prevent problems such as clogging of spray nozzles, uneven application of pesticides, or reduced effectiveness of the individual products.

“In a challenging year such as this, they are an important tool for tillage farmers to maximise the efficiency and efficacy of their spray applications while minimising potential risks and issues.

“With the season the way it is, fast and efficient mixing will be key to minimise downtime. A compatibility adjuvant can enable complex tank-mixing in a single pass, making it a crucial addition.”

More effective treatments

With spray windows likely to be tight over the coming weeks, the improved rain fastness and drift reduction properties of some adjuvants can help both extend these windows and keep crop protection where it needs to be for longer.

Sutherland said: “Crucially, this can also reduce the risk of off-target damage and environmental contamination, while also providing flexibility in scheduling crop protection applications.”

Although the coming weeks are likely to be challenging, leaning on the benefits of an adjuvant could help alleviate some of the efficacy pressures on crop protection sprays, Stuart said.

Optimal targeting of cereal fungicide sprays is proving difficult, as crops are at variable growth stages.

With disease lurking in the base of many wheat and barley crops, rampant disease pressure could be on the cards when temperatures rise and crops start racing through growth stages, particularly if this coincides with intermittent showers.

“Growers could find themselves in a challenging scenario where both protectant and curative fungicide activity become vital to protect yield building leaves,” Interagro’s technical manager cautioned.

“From a wheat T1 spraying perspective, that means getting sprays on in time to protect fully emerged leaf three and yet to emerge leaf two. In more forward crops at T2, protecting leaf two and the flag leaf will be crucial.

“At these growth stages, optimising fungicide coverage across leaf layers can be challenging, as droplet deposition trials show,” he added.

“The temptation to increase forward speeds and reduce water volumes to cover more hectares with the sprayer, may help with the workload, but this can also compromise coverage, jeopardising the effectiveness of the application.

“Addition of an effective adjuvant will help to create a more optimal droplet size to improve deposition and adhesion to plant surfaces by reducing the number of coarse droplets.

 “What’s more, their ability to reduce surface tension and promote spreading can result in better coverage of target plants and leaf layers, leading to more effective treatment overall.”

Where curative fungicide activity comes in to play, it’s also worth leaning on the benefits of an adjuvant to maximise its effectiveness.

“Whilst fungicides permeate leaf cuticles pretty easily – due to their water solubility – you can speed it up with the right adjuvant.

“In a year as challenging as this, the right adjuvant could make a real difference both from a practical point of view and efficacy wise,” Stuart explained.

The post Adjuvant technology may be ‘beneficial in crop spraying’ – Interagro appeared first on Agriland.ie.

Farmers and suppliers attended the Coeliac Society of Ireland event today (Wednesday, May 1) to kick off the awareness month for the disease.

The month aims to shed light on the often misunderstood autoimmune disease.

Farmer and co-owner of Cotter Farm, Billy Cotter said that gluten-free products are part of a “growing market”, with people becoming “more conscious” about what they are eating.

Seeing the “health benefits of oats and its versatility as a grain”, Cotter and his brother, Bernard Cotter decided to “diversify” their tillage farm by growing oats in a gluten free certified environment about two years ago.

They now process oats into gluten-free porridge in a farm building, which they have converted into a mill on their farm at Castletownroche, Co. Cork.

Cotter told Agriland that the crops are grown no differently than they would be in a non-certified environment, but that the processing can be “strict”.

He said that a specific harvester and drier must be used, so that products are not contaminated by any other grains.

Suppliers

Promise Gluten Free is sponsoring the Coeliac Society of Ireland for the month of May.

The company has been running since 2019, and is always expanding its products, which now include: Loaves; sourdoughs; brioche; bagels; flatbreads; and confectionery.

Marketing lead at Promise Gluten Free, Theo Gibbons, said that the gluten-free community is “always growing”, as more people become diagnosed.

“With the innovation that we’re bringing out ourselves and that other companies are bringing out, it’s really important that people are able to live their lifestyle as best as possible, and be able to eat the best products they can,” he added.

Coeliac disease

Dietitian and nutritionist at the Coeliac Society of Ireland, Sarah Keogh, said that if the disease is left untreated, it can lead to “serious complications”.

Complications include malnutrition, osteoporosis, infertility, and an increased risk of certain types of cancer, according to Keogh.

The awareness month will focus on a different theme each week. This includes:

• Week 1: GP awareness and getting children diagnosed with coeliac disease;
• Week 2: Fertility;
• Week 3: Distinguishing against irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and coeliac disease;
• Week 4: Bone health.

Keogh said that around 60% of coeliacs have gut symptoms, while 40% may experience low iron, headaches, ongoing tiredness, an itchy skin rash or a lack of balance.

She said that the first step to receiving a diagnosis is to visit a GP for a simple blood test.

The post Watch: Diversifying a tillage farm to create gluten-free produce appeared first on Agriland.ie.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue has met with members of the Irish Grain Growers’ Group (IGGG) in Co. Laois to listen to their concerns and the current challenges being experienced by tillage farmers.

The exceptional weather conditions at the end of 2023 and into this year resulted in “significant challenges” for tillage farmers, but there has been some return to spring work on tillage farms in the last two weeks with improved weather conditions, he said.

Speaking after the meeting, Minister McConalogue said he was glad for the opportunity to meet with representatives of the IGGG and to listen to their concerns yesterday (Tuesday, April 30).

Acknowledging the particular impact of the recent wet weather and the delay in getting spring crops planted, the minister said he recently announced the commitment to deliver €100/ha in financial support for crops planted for the 2024 harvest.

Making the announcement at the recent Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis, Minister McConalogue said he wants to give “confidence” to growers to plant crops this year. However, the minister has “not yet received the funds” for the €100/ha support.

Tillage farmers

Minister McConalogue acknowledged the difficult year last year for tillage farmers and outlined the additional supports that were provided to the sector in 2023. These additional supports included:

• A top-up of €3 million for Protein Aid bringing the total budget to €10 million;
• The Straw Incorporation Measure provided €16.5 million;
• The Tillage Incentive Scheme provided €8.3 million to growers in 2023;
• The €7.147 million secured from the EU Agricultural Reserve was topped up with a further €7.147 million in state funding;
  • These funds were used to support growers with unharvested crops through a Unharvested Crop Support Scheme with the remaining funds being used as a once-off flat rate payment on the area of oilseed rape and cereal crops. 

In March, the minister also announced an exemption to the crop diversification element of the Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) standard 7, which was one of the proposals made by the European Commission to reduce red tape for farmers.

The exemption eases the concerns for tillage farmers by allowing them to pick the crops that best suit their circumstances, taking account of time of sowing, market returns and seed availability, he said. 

The minister emphasised the importance of a “vibrant and sustainable” tillage sector in increasing Ireland’s food and feed security while also contributing to climate change objectives.

The Climate Action Plan 2023 sets out a target to increase the area under tillage to 400,000ha by 2030 as part of agriculture’s commitment to reduce emissions by 25%.

“The tillage sector is an important and integral component of the agri-food industry and is a sector that I want to see grow and develop.

“That is why I established the Food Vision Tillage Group in May 2023 to set out a road map for the sustainable growth and development of the sector to 400,000ha by 2030,” the minister said.

Minister McConalogue recently received the final report from the group, which is aimed at securing a viable future for the Irish tillage sector, and is considering its recommendations.

The post Minister McConalogue meets with tillage farmers in Laois appeared first on Agriland.ie.

Drinks company Diageo is set to go ahead and build a new €200 million purpose-built brewery in Newbridge following the withdrawal of a High Court appeal.

The brewing facility will be established at IDA Newbridge Business & Technology Park and will include a brew house, workshops, control rooms, labs, offices and other storage areas.

There will be a tanker filling area and a drop-off area for raw materials with 92 silos. The development will also include a renewable heating plant building and a water recycling plant.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Martin Heydon, who is also a Kildare TD, has welcomed the confirmation that the Guinness brewer will now proceed with construction.

He said: “The withdrawal of the sole objection to this important project, is great news for all of south Kildare and the wider tillage sector.

“Kildare County Council and An Bord Pleanála both thoroughly adjudicated on this planning application from Diageo and approved it. The ending of the High Court appeal clears the way for diggers to move in on site in the coming weeks.

“Diageo’s decision to invest in this site in Newbridge is a huge vote of confidence in Kildare south as a location for investment and employment.”

The Boortmalt malting facility in Athy, which processes malting barley produced by Irish farmers, is a major supplier to Diageo.

Heydon added that the risk of the loss of that market, should the new brewery not have proceeded in Ireland, would have been a major blow to Athy and those farmer suppliers. 

“Now there is the very real prospect of Boortmalt increasing its investment in Athy and growing its operations there,” Minister Heydon said.

The facility on the 50ac brewery site in Newbridge will be Diageo’s second largest brewing operation in Ireland after St James’s Gate and will be located in the heartland of where much of the grain for their beers is grown.

It is expected to create up to 1,000 jobs in the construction phase followed by 70 direct jobs once built, with scope for further expansion.

“This project will be transformational for our county, increasing the economic value of our food and drink sector, along with the provision of good jobs in Kildare,” Minister Heydon said.

“I look forward to seeing Ireland’s first carbon neutral brewery come to fruition for the benefit of Kildare south and Ireland.”

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Teagasc crops specialist, Shay Phelan, has assessed the field work required for winter barley and wheat crops in the coming days and has said that one chemical in the spray tank is likely to be enough.

He has also looked at the fertiliser requirements of late-sown spring cereals.

Most winter barley crops have received their final nitrogen (N) at this stage with the first fungicide treatment, so all that is left now is to apply a growth regulator and a final fungicide.

As many of the crops out there this year have limited yield potential for various different reasons, there will be no benefit in applying any extra fungicide when a growth regulator is being applied over the coming days.

Winter barley

The Teagasc representative said: “Some farmers and agronomists are allergic to only putting one chemical into a tank to do a single job. This is often the case when something like Terpal is being applied on winter barley.

“There seems to be a need to put something else in the tank to justify travelling through the crop, but in this case, and especially in 2024, it is rarely warranted.”

Growers should be aware that KWS Joyau is very forward and probably needs a plant growth regulator (PGR) as soon as possible – awns will probably be visible by the end of next week.

The final fungicide should be applied at the awns peeping stage, according to the advice from Teagasc.

Phelan continued: “Repeated trials have shown that by delaying for two weeks allows ramularia to infect the crop and will reduce yield by anything up to 0.4t/ha.

“This will more than cover the cost of the fungicide. Growers should include folpet at full rate but only 50% rate of an azole/SDHI/Strob mix will be fine.”

Winter wheat

Leaf 3 will be emerged on many of the early-sown wheat crops over the coming days. From the evidence of Teagasc monitor crops, there may well be septoria reported on lower leaves, which will spread up the plant.

Graham does have some yellow rust, so growers should be on the watch out for that.

Diseases to be on the lookout for right now in winter wheat crops are: Septoria; yellow rust; eyespot; and mildew.

Growers who are unsure if Leaf 3 is fully emerged, dissect the plants and count the leaves starting with the flag leaf (Leaf 1).

Spring cereal drilling

Many growers are continuing to drill spring cereal crops at the moment. The following question is regularly asked – how much N should be incorporated into the seedbed?

Crops take up nitrogen by growth stage, so the majority of nitrogen uptake will still take place after Growth Stage 30.

Putting a higher proportion in the seedbed will help if a dry period follows sowing, but there is a risk of N losses if heavy rain follows. Applying N when the tramlines are visible is a compromise.

Total N for feed crops should be based on yield potential. Growers should use sowing date and establishment percentage as a guide.

E.g., a 6.5t/ha crop has a requirement of 135kg/ha on index 1 soils. Growers should add an additional 20kg/ha for every tonne expected over 6.5t.

N rates for brewing barley should be reduced, equivalent to expected yield reduction when compared to a normal sowing date.

Distilling, however, is likely to be a real challenge with late-sown crops in 2024.

A 20kg N/ha reduction from malting rates is generally recommended. In other words, if the recommendation was 120kg of N/ha, then applications should reduce to 100kg.

High levels of unprotected urea will cause ammonia scorch and should be avoided.

The post More than one chemical ‘rarely warranted’ for winter barley spray appeared first on Agriland.ie.

Tillage farmer Nicky Keane from Broadway, Co. Wexford has been named winner of the Guinness Ireland Regenerative Barley Awards 2023.

The awards recognise the barley grower in Ireland who has demonstrated the greatest improvement in implementing regenerative farming practices and reducing the impact of barley production.

All entrants are marked against the same criteria and independently reviewed by three judges.

The winning farmer receives €2,500, while the highly commended farmer receives €500.

Regenerative Barley Awards

The overall winner Nicky Keane impressed the judges with his commitment to regenerative farming methods.

The judges said that the farmer demonstrated “a spirit of continuous improvement, adopting outstanding regenerative agricultural practices and generating positive outcomes on his farm”.

Commenting on his win, Nicky Keane said: “I committed many years ago to learning, trialling and adopting techniques that allow me to grow top quality crops, as well as improve the soil and biodiversity on my farm.

“We’re delighted to win this award and hope we can share best practice with other farmers, who might be newcomers to regenerative farming.”

Bobby Miller, who farms in Stradbally, Co. Laois was highly commended by the judges.

“We’ve been introducing regenerative farming practices for a few years now and are committed to enhancing the wildlife on our farm by leaving space for nature.

“Improving soil structure with the use of cover crops and implementing minimum tillage for some crops we are growing is a key management area for us.

“To be recognised by Guinness, is very welcome and we hope to inspire more farmers across Ireland by sharing our knowledge and learnings,” Miller said.

The judges noted that both farmers are focused on improving soil health, enhancing biodiversity, reducing carbon emissions and improving water quality.

David Hagan, global regenerative agricultural manager at Diageo added: “Nicky is an outstanding farmer with an undeniable commitment to improving his land through regenerative practices and truly leading by example.

“We’re delighted for him and look forward to seeing how the changes he is making will positively impact the future of his farm and the community around him.”

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The Met Éireann blight season will begin tomorrow (Wednesday, May 1), after continued rain has left some fields in unworkable conditions.

Potato blight is caused by a fungal-like organism called Phytophthora infestans.

The pathogen thrives in humid weather spreading rapidly on the foliage of potatoes and tomatoes, causing the leaves to decay and the crop to become infected.

Continued wet conditions need to be combined with temperatures above 10° consistently in order for blight to develop, according to Met Éireann agricultural meteorologist Padraig Flattery.

Met Éireann produces a three-day, four-day and five-day forecast spatial maps for the island of Ireland, which illustrates the blight risk at five different risk levels from very low (green) to very high (red).

There is still no means of eradicating an outbreak of blight in a potato crop, meaning that prevention is key.

The need to both mix and alternate fungicide chemistries was highlighted at the recent Teagasc Potato Late Blight Workshop.

Planting blighted tubers is also a potential source of the disease. Therefore make every effort to ensure that all tubers are picked at harvest time and that volunteer potato plants are not allowed to grow the following year.

Met Éireann

Rainfall levels this week have been variable, with drier than average to average rainfall across much of the country.

This is excluding parts of the west, midlands and southeast where above average rainfall was recorded.

It is expected to be wetter than normal across much of the country during the next seven days, as low pressure remains positioned near Ireland pushing in bands of rain and showers.

Rainfall totals are generally expected to range from 20-40mm.

In the week ahead, it will remain cooler than average for the time of year, ranging from 9° to 11°.

Soil temperatures will remain above average, between 10° in the southeast and 11.9° in the west.

Field conditions

Currently all well drained soils and most moderately drained soils have good trafficability of light and medium soils, according to Met Éireann.

Soil moisture deficits vary for poorly drained soils from -10 to +10mm, with the best of the deficits in parts of the east and south midlands.

With increased rainfall in the coming seven days, soil conditions will deteriorate slightly, particularly early in the week with a gradual improvement again towards the weekend.

Though soil moisture deficits will decrease, most well drained and poorly drained soils will remain trafficable. However, poorly trained soils will become saturated or waterlogged.

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There is now evidence to confirm the significant impact of soil potash levels and straw strength within cereal crops.

Of course, the issues of straw strength and potential lodging are inherently linked.

According to the Potash Development Association (PDA), last year saw a significant number of crops in the UK and Ireland lodging due to the heavy rains and strong winds that were such a feature of the summer months.

While plant growth regulator (PGR) programmes may be scrutinised, it is worth considering the factors that can affect straw strength and a crop’s standing ability, including disease and crop nutrition.

In relation to nutrition, potash (K) enhances the development of strong cell walls and therefore enhances stiffness in straw.

Lodging is also affected by obvious factors such as variety, nitrogen rate and weather.

Potash levels

The PDA has said that low potash levels increases the risk of lodged crops with the associated loss of yield and quality. The effect can be as dramatic as a lack of growth regulator.

Considering this follows a period of high potash prices and a succession of years of reduced potash applications, not to mention increased offtakes following last year’s high yields, it could be worth giving this input an extra thought this autumn. 

Since the mid-1990s, average potash usage in many parts of the UK and Ireland has been less than potash removed in cereal grain and straw.

This has resulted in an inevitable reduction of soil potash reserves. A similar imbalance has developed for some other main arable crops and this also applies to phosphate (P).

These trends have continued and will lead to serious consequences for straw yield and quality, the association has stressed.

The length of time before financial penalties occur will depend on soil type, manure use and the phosphate and potash reserves of individual fields.

Yield and quality

Potash affects both yield and quality of grain, as well as the general health and vigour of the plant.

Cereal crops need at least as much, if not more, potash than any other nutrient including nitrogen (N).

Potash is needed in such large amounts because it is the major regulator of solution concentrations throughout the plant.

It controls cell sap content to maintain the turgor of the plant and supports the movement of all materials within the plant.

Potash supply is thus essential for all nutrient uptake by the roots and movement to the leaves for photosynthesis, and for the distribution of sugars and proteins made by the green tissue for plant growth and grain fill.

Specifically, potash enhances the development of strong cell walls and therefore stiffer straw, according to the PDA.

Lodging is affected by obvious factors such as variety, nitrogen rate and weather, but low potash levels also increase the risk of lodged crops with the associated loss of yield and quality. 

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