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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Interest in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has focused substantially on the military and political situation, with some arguing that there has been little attention paid to the wider implications, one of which is the growth of the BRICS+ organisation.

BRICS started as an informal reference to an unofficial grouping of countries that were growing in size but were not considered to be part of the ‘west’ as America and Europe would consider themselves.

The countries concerned were Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa being included later.

Over the years, the arrangement has been formalised into a trading block which was joined by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ethiopia at the start of this year, hence the + sign now often appended to the acronym.

Driving the agenda

Russia has been an enthusiastic supporter of the organisation and holds the presidency for 2024.

It has at the top of the agenda the formation of a grain trading organisation which will rival that of Chicago-based system that has been serving as the world’s main exchange since WWII.

The challenge is one to be taken seriously for between them these countries account for 44% of the world’s grain production, and 44% of its consumption; the west will most likely lose overall control of grain prices and distribution.

There are three main reasons driving this change. The first is an altruistic desire to make grain available to developing countries that find themselves with inadequate nutrition.

Some would claim that the finance-driven markets exclude poorer nations from participating fully.

The second is that the BRICS+ is now big enough to address the old complaint of ‘American imperialism’.

BRICS+ has a point, the gross domestic product (GDP) of its members now exceeds that of the GDP of the G7, which includes the great bread baskets of the United States and Canada.

The third item is the desire to undermine the dollar as the world’s major trading currency. This is already happening with oil being paid for between BRICS+ members via the Chinese yuan, the rouble and Indian rupee.

Grain has now been dragged on stage as the next commodity to be de-westernised and this will come to influence what farmers in Ireland are paid for the grain,

Just as importantly, it will also influence what they will be paying for their feed as there is a direct connection between the two.

For the western food and milling industry, one of the major concerns will be that the usual factors affecting grain prices may no longer apply, or they will be usurped by the new considerations of BRICS+ member states, which may not coincide with the interests of western countries.

Grain priorities

This will make the forecasting of prices and trading in futures more uncertain.

Nobody is suggesting that the west and BRICS+ would trade with each other – they will continue to do so – but the policies and priorities of non-western governments will have a far larger influence on price and availability than we have hitherto been used to.

If, for instance, India suffers a bad harvest, then the priority for BRICS+ will be to ship large quantities of grain to help out, and if that means a scarcity of grain for Ireland, that may be a consequence.

The EU will have little say in the matter and the Irish government none at all.

The tillage sector would enjoy higher prices yet they will be capped by what purchasers will be willing to pay for grains, and substitution by other produce in the livestock sector.

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The Teagasc annual tillage conference has reiterated the benefits of an effective rotation for crops.

These include: the better use of manpower, an extended harvest window and more effective use of machinery.

According to Teagasc’s Dermot Forristal: “The inclusion of a break crop, such as oilseed rape or spring beans, can be extremely beneficial.

“It represents a management approach, which allows for the use of different herbicides – thereby delivering better weed control over a period of time.

“There are also significant yield increased to be secured by including a break crop within a rotation, [e.g.,] a first wheat can follow winter oilseed rape or beans.”

Teagasc’s trial work has also confirmed the yield benefits that can be obtained when a continuous barley regime is tweaked to include other crops within a more holistic rotation.

Growing a range of crops extends the harvest window, In turn, this allows cereal growers smaller combines than would otherwise be the case.

“This reduces the overall level of costs incurred within the business,” Forristal added,

He recognises that the reduced opportunities to plant winter crops last autumn will have an impact on the rotations, followed by tillage farmers over the coming weeks.

Spring oat varieties

However, there are a number of themes that should be followed over the coming weeks. Farmers who failed to get winter oats planted prior to Christmas can opt for spring oat varieties now.

Spring beans are an option now for growers who failed to get winter oilseed rape crops established prior to Christmas.

He continued: “Spring barley is the obvious option for those growers who fell short with their winter wheat planting at the back end of last year.

“Obviously, there will be an issue with barley seed availability over the coming weeks. Winter wheat can be successful until the middle of February.

“This is an option, which growers should look at seriously while time permits.”

Forage crops, including maize and beet will also be an option on a number of farms in 2024, but this comes with the Teagasc advisory note that customers for these crops should be secured before planting takes place.

Forristal referred to spring oilseed rape as a marginal crop under Irish conditions at the best of times.

Irish Seed Trade Association president, Tim O’Donovan, disagreed with this assessment, pointing to the potential for spring rape on some farms.

He also confirmed that spring rape seed is available at the present time.  

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A recent ADAS study has confirmed that cover crops can both refine nitrogen (N) usage and protect water quality.

This work was co-funded by Affinity Water and Portsmouth Water under the aegis of a project known as ‘Nitrogen release from Cover Crops’ (NiCCs).

It was centred on the identification of how best to destroy cover crops prior to the establishment of a new tillage enterprise.

During the trial, cover crops were destroyed either mechanically by rolling on a frost, chopping, or with chemicals.

Two cover crop mixes were established: one comprised phacelia and wild radish, and the other featured a mix of Japanese oats – buckwheat and phacelia.

The results secured have identified that cover crops reduced nitrate leaching losses by up to 90% when compared to the weedy stubble control.

Depending on how well the cover crops established and the species mix, soil N supply to spring cereal crops also increased by up to 35kg N/ha.

When it came to the subsequent spring cereal crop, yields following a cover crop were up by 0.2-1.0 t/ha when compared to yields, following the weedy stubble control.

Destruction of cover crops

On destruction, the cover crops released significantly more N than the no cover/weedy stubble areas.

Moving to destruction methods, chemicals were found to have more benefits than mechanical methods.

N mineral release, grain N off-take, and total crop N uptake were all higher with chemical destruction. This led to subsequent improvements in yield, and in the case of spring oats, grain weight.

However, the study did acknowledge that, without financial incentives, it was marginally more cost-efficient for farmers to not grow a cover crop and destroy weeds chemically.

It emphasised that incentive schemes should support cover crop use so ‘harder to monetise’ benefits such as improved water quality, soil health and biodiversity can be realised.

“Cover crops can capture significant quantities of nitrogen over winter, thereby protecting surface and ground waters,” confirmed Dr. Anne Bhogal, a principal soil scientist with ADAS.

Simon Deacon from Portsmouth Water, said:

“Cover crops have been proven to reduce nitrate leaching into groundwater by up to 90%, and therefore help toward improving water quality and supply of drinking water.

“This trial provides additional information that helps toward improving cover crop management and water quality.”

Meanwhile, Catchment Water is working with farmers to find sustainable solutions which work for both crop and water production.

Dan Coffey of Catchment Water, said:

“The NiCCs trial has shown that cover crops are a vital measure for preventing nitrate leaching and demonstrating how farmers can potentially manage the destruction of cover crops to best utilise fixed nitrogen for subsequent crops.”

The results of this ADAS trial will be of significance for tillage farmers throughout the UK and Ireland.

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The Ulster Arable Society (UAS) is calling for the introduction of bespoke measures to support crop production in Northern Ireland.

UAS president, Barclay Bell, has confirmed that representatives from the organisation will meet policy development officials with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) next month to discuss the matter.

He confirmed these developments during his presentation to the 2024 UAS conference.

According to Bell: “A joint report published by UAS and the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) back in 2021 confirmed the very sustainable nature of crop production.

“Arable farming has the lowest carbon footprint of all of the sectors within production agriculture.

“Yet, this reality is not recognised, in any way, within the new farm support measures that will be rolled out over the next couple of years.

“UAS will make the case for the development of a robust and sustainable arable sector in Northern Ireland.”

Past challenges

The UAS president reflected on the many challenges that had confronted cereal and potato producers throughout 2023, including atrocious weather, high input costs and poor farm gate prices.

“Last year turned out to be the third wettest year on record. It was a snatch and grab harvest for many farmers, with some potato growers facing the prospect of heavy losses in the wake of last autumn’s floods.”

While admitting that last year followed-on directly from what could only be described as the near perfect harvest of 2022, Bell confirmed that 2023 saw arable incomes falling by 50%.

This decline would have been even more significant, and it not been for the availability of the single payment support scheme.

He referenced the very clear steps now being taken by the tillage sector in the ROI to come up with schemes that will underpin its future development.

“We want to see the same course of action taken here in Northern Ireland,” he stressed.

A key priority identified in the 2021 UAS/UFU joint report, was that of securing support from public funds to provide farmers and growers with the financial reward needed to sustain vibrant farm families.

This would also ensure that farm and horticulture businesses can deliver both efficient production and environmental benefits.

It was also envisaged that both economic and environmental benefit would be obtained through an increase in the area of arable crops grown in Northern Ireland.

According to the report, there is negligible release of ammonia from arable enterprises so their indirect impact on biodiversity is much less than livestock enterprises.

In addition, specialist tillage/arable farms in Ireland emit 1.18t C02 equivalent/ha. This is just 15% of the rate for dairy farms, and 25% of that for beef farms.

The report concludes that, with increasing concern about climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from agriculture, crop production has a relatively low carbon footprint, in comparison to livestock production.

As a result, it is well placed to contribute to this reduction locally and globally, by substituting for livestock production and replacing imported feed ingredients.  

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A Fahr MD4 combine was a huge attraction at the De Courcey vintage harvest event in August of last year.

Its owner, Derry Desmond, of Kinsale, Co. Cork, kindly invited Agriland to take a closer look at the machine.

Dating from 1954, it is one of only two examples known to have been imported to Ireland, and there is no record of what happened to the other.

They were brought in by McGee Stores of Ardee, Co. Louth with this particular example going to a farm in Co. Kilkenny.

From there, it was traded in for another combine at Kearney’s of Fermoy – where it stood outside for several years, before being purchased by a collector from Buttevant, Co. Cork.

It was kept in a shed, which is where Derry Desmond came across it around 10 years ago.

Returning it to working order involved a lot of work, although, only being a small machine by today’s standards, it was quite manageable.

Two of the major issues he encountered were seized chains and rotted belts.

He was able to free up the chains while replacing the belts. He was able to do so with the help of a local engineering company which gave him a box to sort through.

He didn’t touch the steelwork, as it was still perfectly sound despite being 70-years-old, and having spent years exposed to the elements.

Derry puts this firmly down to the quality of the steel, and compares it to a later addition to the combine – which is the rear hood.

Crop considerations

Unfortunately, the baler has long since disappeared, but a spiral crop divider still exists – albeit in a rather forlorn condition.

This ran up the right-hand-side of the table, and was presumably there to deal with taller crops in the days before semi-dwarf cereal varieties.

The engine is a diesel unit said to be of 48hp, but it is not all clear as to who made it. There are two likely candidates, Hatz and Hanomag.

Henschel has also been suggested but the company did not produce any engines itself until its merger with Hanomag in 1964.

As it stands, there is no indication on any of the castings, other than a stamped serial number and the cylinder numbers boldly cast into the block.

Powering a thresher

In the early days, combine harvesters were seen as little more than mobile threshing machines – something which had been made possible by the advent of the compact internal combustion engine.

However, the problem that had still not been solved was where to put it. Fahr’s solution was to bolt it to the lower left-hand-side, behind the front axle, where it would have kept the centre of gravity low.

In this position, it was also central to most of the moving parts such as the drum, sieves and the single-straw walker.

Drive to the header was by belt and chain, and drive to nearly everything else is by a convoluted series of shafts, belts and gears.

It is this collection of very well-engineered, but rather complex drivetrains, that sets the character of the Fahr MD4 apart from other combines from the 1950s.

The steering wheel turns a worm gear, which then rotates a cross shaft running to the right-hand-side of the machine.

This turns a chain running to the lower rear of the body, where it activates a pivot point which pushes or pulls at a steering arm mounted on the left-hand wheel.

Yet another rod then transfers this motion to a steering arm on the right. It all works perfectly well, but it does give the suggestion of being an afterthought rather than an integral part of the harvester.

It’s as if the company built a small thresher, and then added the working components to make it mobile as they thought of them, rather than take a more holistic approach.

These were early days for combines, so this sort of experimentation only adds to the charm and appeal of this exercise in engineering. Derry confesses to being rather fond of its idiosyncrasies.

Making the MD4 move

Another notable feature is the transmission. This is believed to be a ZF unit, but Derry has not yet had to delve deep enough to confirm this, and there is no immediate indication when looking at it in situ.

There are five forward ratios and a reverse, which, in the absence of an infinitely variable transmission, gives a good range of speeds for a slow machine.

Just how low first gear is remains an unknown for it cannot be selected at present and is one of those jobs that will require the eventual removal of the transmission.

As an early attempt at creating a combine harvester from scratch, the Fahr MD4 is a fascinating window into the challenges faced by engineers as they strived to create a new class of machine.

It is tempting to consider experimental machines, but the MD models were mass-produced.

The last of the line, the MDL, stayed in production up until 1964 – although the engine had by then been moved to behind the driver’s seat, as is standard practice today.

The post Machinery Focus: A closer look at the Fahr MD4 combine appeared first on Agriland.ie.

The total cereal production for harvest 2023 is estimated to be 1.93 million tonnes, which is down by 492,500t compared to the previous year.

The Teagasc Harvest Report 2023 states that the 20% reduction in cereal production is due to a reduced cereal area and below average yields.

The report shows that all cereal crop yields are below their five-year average in 2023 as adverse weather at critical times took its toll.

Rain during the key planting months of October 2022 and March 2023 resulted in a below average area of winter cereals and delayed planting of spring cereals.

The report states that the cereal area planted this autumn is estimated to be at its lowest level since 2013 due to recent poor weather conditions.

Cereal production

Teagasc noted that there was a record area of winter oilseed rape (20,500ha) and spring beans (14,900ha) planted for harvest 2023

The total cereal area reduced by 6.4% in 2023 when compared with the previous year.

When the increased planting of winter oilseed rape (+41%) and spring beans (+60%) are included, the overall tillage area was down by 2% on 2022 levels.

However when the increased area of winter oilseed rape (+41%) and spring beans (+60%) are factored in the overall tillage area reduced by 2% when compared to 2022.

Teagasc said that the drought conditions in late May and June played a major part in the poorer yields recorded in late sown spring crops.

The intense rainfall in July resulted in a high level of lodging in cereal crops, particularly spring barley.

The report noted that spring oats and barley remain unharvested following the challenging season.

The reduction in the cereal area, lodging and difficult weather also led to a significant drop in the volume of straw produced in 2023.

Disease levels in crops were low in 2023 which was helped by dry weather in the second half of May and June.

Harvest 2023

The Teagasc report outlined the following results for individual crop types in harvest 2023:

• Winter wheat: Area of 51,200ha, down 9,200ha on 2022. Average yield was 9.5t/ha which is 1.1t/ha below the record yield of 11t/ha in 2022;
• Spring wheat: Area of 4,500ha, down 2,000ha on the five-year average. Overall average yield of 7.6t/ha which is 0.4t/ha below the five-year average;
• Winter barley: Area of 53,200ha, down from 73,800ha in 2022. Overall average yield of 8.7t/ha, just slightly below the five-year average for the crop;
• Spring barley: Area of 131,800ha, up 15,300ha on 2022. Overall average yield of 6.4t/ha, which is 1.1t/ha below the five-year average;
• Winter oats: Area pf 10,200ha, 5,000ha lower than 2022. Average yield for the crop was 8.3t/ha, just below average;
• Spring oats: Area of 16,600ha, up 3,600ha on 2022. Average yield was 7.2t/ha, 0.3t/ha below the five-year average;
• Winter oilseed rape: Area of 20,500ha, up 3,000ha on 2022. Average yield was 4.4t/ha which is slightly below the five-year average of 4.6t/ha.
• Spring beans: Area of 14,900ha, up from 11,400ha in 2022. Average yield was 5.4t/ha which is close to the five-year average.

Commenting on the report, Michael Hennessy, Teagasc head of crops knowledge transfer, said: “The cropping year leading up to the harvest of 2023 was very challenging with excessive rain and drought conditions effecting the final yield in many crops.

“The weather pattern appear to be even more unpredictable than normal and many farmers are asking if climate change is already adversely affecting their businesses.”

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The dry spell at the end of September and early October allowed contractor, Darren Russell, to plant a 20ac crop of Spearhead winter wheat on behalf of a local dairy farming client.

The ground is situated in the townland of Killead, close to Belfast International Airport in south Co. Antrim.

“The fields had previously been in grass. They were sprayed off with glyphosate at the end of September,” Russell explained.

“The ground then received a combined dressing of dairy cattle slurry and farmyard manure. The slurry was spread at a rate of 3,000g/ac.

“To be honest we ran out of slurry, why is why some of the ground received farmyard manure.”

Ploughing followed as soon as the glyphosate had completed its work.

“The crop was sown out using a one-pass, 3m drill on October 7,” Russell continued.

“It established very well, which allowed us to apply a herbicide on October 17.”

Russell opted for ‘Shooter’ from BASF. The active ingredients are flufenacet and pendimethalin.

The herbicide delivers broad control of grass and broadleaf weeds in barley and wheat crops.

“This should provide the new wheat crop with the weed control required over the coming weeks,” he said. “It essentially seals the crop.”

When it came to sowing the crop, Russell switched to a set of 900 tyres on the tractor pulling the drill.

“We put in 15m tramlines, which ties in well with the sprayer and the drill size that we work with,” he explained.

“We normally use the broader tyres when putting out slurry. But ground in south Antrim tends to be quite heavy.

“Like the rest of the country we have had a lot of rain this year and ground conditions remain very challenging,” he added.

The contractor explained that the one possible downside to using the 900 tyres with a 3m seed drill was the fact they covered the entire width of the new seed bed.

“But all worked out well in the end. The new crop has germinated and is looking tremendous at the present time,” he said.

Darren Russell does not spray winter cereals for Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV).

“We don’t have a problem with the disease in this part of the world. Despite the wet conditions, there is no sign of slug damage in the newly drilled wheat,” he confirmed.

“South Antrim is not a traditional cereal growing area. The soils are a little bit on the heavy side. Most of the crops sown out would be destined for the silo.

“However, the Spearhead wheat will be combined. The farmer in question grows about 50ac of cereals annually in preparation for a grass reseed.

“Winter wheat is sown in the autumn with barley and rye to follow in the spring.”

Russell has sown out about 120ac of winter crop, in total, over recent weeks – all winter wheat.

“Normally, we would have a lot more crop in the ground at this stage. But the dreadful weather has made field work almost impossible,” he concluded.

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The Agricultural Consultants’ Association (ACA) hosted a national organic farm walk on Wednesday, October 18. The event took place on Gemma and Tom Dunne’s Seefeld Farm, a beef and tillage enterprise located near Durrow, Co. Laois.

Despite the heavy rain, both conventional and organic farmers alike from across the country turned out in the wet conditions for the event.

At the farm walk, attendees heard from ACA organic specialists Julian Pawlowski and Mary Lynch as well as the host farmer, Tom Dunne.

Representatives from the two organic certification bodies as well as the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) were in attendance at the event also.

Tom has been organic farming for 20 years. The farm started out as a beef and sheep farm and now specialises in beef and tillage.

The land use in 2023 was as follows:

• Oats and combi crop: 17.69ha;
• Red clover pasture for silage: 17ha;
• Permanent pasture: 30ha;
• ACRES winter bird food: 1.15ha;
• Total usable area: 65.84ha.

The farm consists of just under 66ha of which 35ha is owned and the remaining 31ha has been taken on long-term leases within 10km of the farm.

The farm is stocked at 1.39LU/ha and has 15% space for nature.

The beef enterprise

The farm originally had a suckler enterprise but has now transitioned to buying store bullocks that are brought to finish.

90 cattle are purchased each year directly off organic farms at approximately 18 months of age. Tom has built up relationships with a number of organic store cattle producers over the years and purchases cattle from them each year, by agreeing a price/kg and getting the cattle weighed at local weigh bridges.

The cattle are primarily finished from January to June each year to avail of the premium beef price available at that time of year.

The cattle are normally 24-30 months-of-age at slaughter. All stock is sold to Good Herdsman and slaughtered at ABP in Cahir, Co. Tipperary.

Cattle average 390kg carcass weight at slaughter and last year, the average price achieved was €2,284, which worked out at approximately €800 over the price paid for the cattle approximately 12 months earlier.

Tom said: “This year’s cattle, taking all things into account, they’re coming in at just under €3/kg, €2.97/kg to be precise.

“I’ve done it in the last three years; I’m hoping to put €800/head to the buying-in price.

“My costs, all considered, rented land and all, is just short of €300/head so that’s leaving me a net margin of €500/animal on 90 animals on top of my payments which is satisfactory to me.”

The present organic beef price is €5.50/kg and is expected to be at €6/kg by next March.

The cattle are housed for the winter in a loose shed with a slatted feeding area. Straw produced on the farm is used to bed the cattle.

The percentage of cattle killing-out in each grade is as follows:

All cattle slaughtered secured a fat score of three or four.

With the organic price grid, base price is paid on R3 and R4 cattle and there is an 18c/kg bonus for U grades and an 18c/kg cut for 0 grades.

There is a 30-50c/kg cut on the base price for P grades, depending on the fat score.

The tillage enterprise

The tillage enterprise is made up of organic oats sold to Tirlán and growing combi-crops which are used as feed for cattle. The variety of oats sown is Husky.

This year, two combi crops were grown:

• Peas and wheat;
• Beans and wheat.

The home-grown organic ration of peas and wheat is costing €148/t stored in the shed.

The seed was sourced from Western Seeds. Both crops were harvested for grain.

The peas and wheat were crimped and treated with a lactobacillus bacteria. The feed is then stored in a shed under a plastic cover.

The wheat and beans were crimped and then treated with propionic acid and stored in the shed.

As more than 50% of the mix is protein, the Protein Aid Scheme payment can also be drawn down.

Contractors are hired to do all the cultivation and harvesting. The fields are ploughed each year, then a one-pass system (Horsch) cultivates and sows the crops.

The gates are then closed until harvest. There is one large, loose shed that can be used to handle and store the grain.

Once the tillage rotation is completed, the fields are reseeded with a red-clover mix and this produces most of the silage for the farm along with silage from some permanent pasture fields.

Grass seeds are sourced from Western Seeds or Fruithill farm and a seed derogation is sought if 100% of the mix is not organic seed.

The red clover swards are normally cut three times during the year and this is mostly used for pit silage.

This produces a high-quality silage with an average protein content of 15% and along with the grain produced on the farm, it allows the cattle to be finished with all home-grown fodder and grains.

The red clover is normally grazed lightly at the end of the growing season and if conditions are good in the spring, it can also get a light graze prior to closing for silage.

Soil fertility

Soil fertility on the beef and tillage farm is regularly monitored on the farm. Lime is spread on a regular basis to maintain a soil pH over 6.5.

Phosphorus levels across the beef and tillage farm range from index 3-4 and potassium levels range from index 2-4.

Dairy sludge has been imported from Tirlán Ballyragget, in accordance with the soil samples. Slurry and farm yard manure (FYM) produced on the farm are spread on the tillage ground and red-clover swards.

Mobile farm

Tom operates a mobile farm for AgriAware and so has some poultry, pigs and sheep on the farm which he carries in the mobile unit to visit schools around Leinster.

The post €500/bullock net margin on Laois beef and tillage farm appeared first on Agriland.ie.

Agriland was joined by our very own Richard Halloren, Teagasc Crop specialist Shay Phelan and Chair of IFA National Grain Committee Kieran McEvoy to talk about an incredibly tough year for Irish tillage farmers. This was as part of the offical #Ploughing2023 livestream.

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The increasing break crop area available to Irish tillage farmers this autumn should act to boost grain yields in 2024.

This was one of the key messages delivered by Seedtech’s Tim O’Donovan at the company’s variety trials event, held in Co. Waterford this week.

“We have seen a significant increase in the areas of spring beans, winter oilseed rape and maize in 2023,” O’Donovan said.

“It is estimated that this break crop area available to grow first cereals, has increased by around 15,000ha in 2023 compared to 2022.

“In turn, this is providing cereal growers with the opportunity to come in with a first wheat or a very productive winter barley option this autumn.”

Barleys

O’Donovan went on to specifically highlight the benefits of drilling new, high-yielding barley options when starting a new crop rotation.

“There is now a proven range of conventional two-row, six-row, hybrid and barley yellow dwarf virus tolerant winter barley varieties available to Irish cereal growers.

“All have very high yielding potential. But more than this, when taken as a group they provide more than a month-long planting window option for growers during the September-October period.

“Hybrid barleys are particularly suited to follow break crops because of the additional yield potential that they offer, and this is proven over many years in the independent trials conducted across Ireland by the Department of Agriculture,” the Seedtech representative added.

Sustainability in tillage

According to O’Donovan, the increase in the spring bean, maize and winter oilseed rape area of recent years has brought the Irish break crop acreage close to what it was when sugar beet was a viable option.

“Seedtech is looking at the overall sustainability of tillage farms in Ireland. This principle can be distilled down to three factors – people, profit and the environment,” O’Donovan said.

“In our case, we are producing varieties that are more sustainable. They will also deliver more profit while also keeping people in the industry. This latter point is crucially important.

“The Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, has asked the tillage industry to come up with solutions. The new vision group [Food Vision Tillage Group], of which the Irish Seed Trade feeds into, has been asked to take on this work,” he added.

O’Donovan went on to confirm the role that plant breeding will play in this context. He highlighted the challenge of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) as a case in point.

“At Seedtech all three categories of seed barley now come with a BYDV tolerance varietal option,” he commented.

“We also have turnip virus yellow tolerance in oilseed rape. In addition, we have excellent genetics coming through in new oilseed rape varieties. All of this will help secure the crop for the future.”

Seedtech drilling guide

O’Donovan drew particular attention to the drilling guide, contained in the recently published Seedtech variety guide for 2023/2024.

“It sets out a timetable, which allows growers to drill specific crops on a weekly basis over a 14- to 15-week autumn planting season,” he explained.

“The fact that October of 2022 was so wet has highlighted the importance of growers having crop options that can be drilled from August, such as oilseed rape, right through to November with winter oats.

“With this in mind, the planting season could be kick-started with oilseed rape, followed by hybrid rye and then a BYDV-tolerant barley.”

He explained that this means a significant proportion of the area available for autumn planting can be drilled before the weather deteriorates.

“The drilling guide has seeding rates and varietal choices. But it will also confirm the optimal sowing dates for various barley varieties, based on our experience here in Waterford,” he stated.

Food Vision Tillage Group

O’Donovan is confident that the Food Vision Tillage Group can come forward with recommendations that will deliver an expanded crops sector in Ireland.

“The group is made up of extremely experienced people from right across the tillage sector,” he continued.

“I am very confident that under the stewardship of its chairman, Matt Dempsey, sensible and long-term recommendations will be brought forward that allow all of our agricultural sectors to thrive.

“This is the key point – the tillage vision group is seeking to find ways in which the crops sector can knit-in with the likes of the pig, poultry, cattle and dairy industries. All of these sectors must thrive together; if everybody doesn’t win, nobody wins,” he added.

Faithlegg

By common consent, the trials site at Faithlegg looked an absolute picture this week. The man responsible for making all of this happen was Seedtech farm manager, Denis Dunne.

“The land that we have access to is free-draining and of an excellent quality. It allows us to trial 1,000 crop varieties across 3,000 plots,” Dunne explained.

“Many of these plots are used to screen the initial potential of new varieties.

“After one growing season, we can take a judgement call on whether a new variety is worthy of further investigation here at Faithlegg. Most don’t make it beyond the screening process.

“Those that do are further assessed here at Faithlegg with the best submitted for inclusion within the national recommended list trials that are undertaken by the Department of Agriculture,” he said.

Dunne said that they grow 17 different crop species including cereals, oilseeds, maize, legumes and pulses. Speciality crops, such as spelt and linseed also feature.

2023 cereal harvest

According to Denis Dunne, the earliest of this year’s winter barley plots will be ready for the combine within the next 7-10 days.

“Joyau will probably be the earliest barley variety to ripen this year. It is a six-row option with BYDV tolerance. Joyau grows well under Irish conditions,” he said.

“All our oilseed rape plots are looking well this year. This reflects the fact that they were drilled into excellent seed beds last September.”

Reflecting on the past growing season, Dunne confirmed that all the trial plots were planted out despite the very poor weather conditions of last October.

“This is a key advantage of having a trials site that is very suited to the growing of arable crops,” he said.

“The very wet weather that impacted across the country throughout the entire month of March provided a further challenge when it came to the drilling of our spring crops. But, again, we got the job completed as soon as ground and weather conditions permitted.”

The extremes of weather encountered throughout the 2023/2024 growing seasons threw up a number of crop disease-related issues for Denis Dunne and his team.

“Heavy infestations of septoria impacted on the lower leaves of our winter wheat plots earlier in the spring,” Dunne commented.

“This was a direct consequence of the heavy rains that fell during March and the fact that deteriorating ground conditions prevented us from applying fungicides at the time.

Hybrid rye

Hybrid rye was specifically highlighted at the Seedtech event as a winter cereal crop with significant potential for the future under Irish conditions.

It is estimated that 3,500ha of rye were grown in Ireland last year. The cereal has a number of unique characteristics that make it a very useful cropping option on tillage farms.

First off, it can tolerate take-all and BYDV, allowing it to be drilled form mid-September onwards.

Secondly, rye is very winter hardy, drought resistant and can out-yield other cereals in low fertility situations.

Finally, rye appears to be relatively unaffected by wet weather diseases, such as septoria. It is also very harvest stable – rye is quite sprouting-resistant when compared to other grain crops.

The markets for rye are developing. But the grain is already well known to animal nutritionists as it widely fed to pigs in Germany and Denmark.

However, growers are advised to secure an end market before committing to the crop.

Whole crop rye is an excellent forage source for ruminants with starch levels on a par with those found in the maize.

Seed quality

Seedtech prides itself in making top quality seed consistently available to Irish grain growers.

The man responsible for making this happen is production manager Daniel Norris. He is working with growers while also coordinating all of the steps that led to the final placement of certified seed into a bag.

“We work closely with up to 90 growers around the country, producing up to 4,500t of seed annually,” Norris explained.

“Seedtech currently has opportunities for contract growers with suitable, clean land who are committed to delivering the highest quality seed.

“This is particularly the case where oilseed rape is concerned.”

Norris defined suitable ground for seed production as land without blackgrass, wild oats, brome and canary grass.

“More often than not, ley ground meets this requirement,” he added.

“For oilseed rape at the moment, we are working with growers from east Cork to Co. Westmeath and then back into Wexford.”

The post Tillage Focus: Increase in break crop area may boost grain yields appeared first on Agriland.ie.

The last in a series of discussions on the growth of Ireland’s plant protein sector featured on the most recent ‘Tillage Edge’ podcast.

Many members of the general public now advocate the switch from animal to plant-based proteins as a means of increasing the sustainability of farming systems.

To put these issues in context, Teagasc’s Dr. Ewen Mullins and Prof. Milena Corredig, a food design and technology specialist form Aarhus University in Denmark, jointly reflected on the many developments now taking place within the plant protein space.

They specifically referenced the recently launched VALPRO Path project, an initiative designed to support the development of a plant protein across Europe.

Changing diets

Corredig started the discussion by referencing the change that had taken place in consumer habits over the past decade, where the inclusion of plant protein in consumer diets is concerned.

She said that many consumers had consciously cut down on the amount of animal protein in their diets for health reasons.

But, over a period of time, this trend had transitioned into some people taking a vegan perspective in the way that they consume food.

“But we now know that by 20250 we should really shift our diets towards something that is more sustainable,” Corredig continued.

“Our current food production is really not sustainable at all.”

According to Corredig, consumers must now shift their consumption of animal products to plant alternatives or, at least, something that is more sustainable.

“Above and beyond the issue of animal versus plant debate, we must produce and process foods in a more sustainable way, across the board,” she commented.

“We must create new opportunities for consumers to eat food choices that are more within the boundaries of our planet. What’s more, consumers are asking for more of these products.”

Corredig noted the growing demand for what are considered to be clean, whole foods. But, as far as she is concerned, much more must be down to define what this food category actually constitutes.

Plant protein products

Relevant factors to consider include the trust that the public places in the food they are eating. Is local sourcing important? Or is it a case of accepting processed foods that contain less ingredients?

“Depending on how we define these criteria, there is a role for plant-based food,” she confirmed.

“Easier tracing of the ingredients used within a food product is also important. This is especially so if the food contains products grown in the country within which it is sold.”

But there are real challenges when it comes to including higher levels of plant-based ingredients within processed foods.

As a case in point, the Danish academic pointed to the fact that plant-based ‘milks’ are less stable than the bovine equivalent.

As a result, additional stabilisers must be included within processed foods when specific plant-based ingredients are used.

“And in some cases this can lead to a degree of over-processing,” she explained.

“All of this then comes back to the definition of a clean label, where these products are concerned.”

VALPRO

Dr. Ewen Mullins confirmed that the VALPRO path project has been designed to address many of these issues.

“Teagasc is looking at the potential to develop new plant products that will constitute new ingredients for the food processing sectors,” he commented.

“VALPRO is taking this development model and pushing it out across Europe. We are seeking to find out where the premium markets can be identified.

“VALPRO comprises 22 partners across eight countries.”

According to Mullins, the current protein landscape in Europe is not fit for purpose.

“We don’t have premium supply chains for farmers,” he stressed.

“Yet we have food processing businesses striving very hard to source consistent supplies of plant protein. At the same time we know that farmers across Europe can produce excellent yields of high quality protein crops.

“It really is a case now of bringing growers and processers together. VALPRO is about developing real systems with real farmers,” he added.

He said that companies will develop the required business models and farmers will then be able to produce the required levels of biomass and, hopefully, be able to carry out a degree of primary processing.

“This then delivers added value to the grower. This is all about maximising the value of every bit of product that comes off the field,” he continued.

Mullins went on to point out that such an approach will also lead to the development of new opportunities for food processing businesses to source raw materials at farm level.

Local sourcing also feeds into the whole narrative surrounding authenticity and provenance, while also reducing the environmental footprint of the foods that are finally consumed.

A number of Europe’s largest food companies are already committed to VALPRO. They are already looking to source new base ingredients for inclusion within their processing operations.

“These businesses are fully aware of the consumer drive for diversification of food sources. They are also aware of the need to tag on to their products a full sustainability storyline,” Mullins said.

“This basically means that when consumers go to a product, they have the option of scanning a bar code with their phones. This will automatically direct them to a source of information relating to the product they have selected.

“This information will include a full listing of the ingredients. But more importantly, it will also reference the source of these constituents and how they were grown.

“It’s all about delivering a full footprint of how individual food products are made. And this will be  a very important component of the VALPRO project,” he stated.

Prof. Corredig also referenced the fact that VALPRO is at the heart of a new economy that is fast developing at the present time.

“There will also be possibilities to create new companies, as well as helping new start-ups that are already part of the consortium,” she explained.

“There is a little bit of an eco-system now developing within VALPRO with some partners larger than others.”

Beans, peas and lupins

One of the most significant impacts that VALPRO will have on the Irish tillage sector is the introduction of new crops and the greater use of technologies, such as inter-cropping.

“The crops that we will be focusing on are faba beans, which we already know well in Ireland; peas and also lupins,” Mullins said.

“In parts of Europe, lupin is a very successful crop in terms of delivering enhanced levels of plant protein output. One of the successes already coming out of VALPRO is the inter-cropping of pea and faba bean.

“Beans have a very thick stem while peas are highly regarded by food processers as a source of high quality protein.

“Pea is a very valuable crop, assuming it stays up. But what we know is that a winter mix of faba beans and peas works tremendously well. In essence, the beans act as a scaffold for the peas.”

The Teagasc specialist explained that this approach has multiple benefits. In the first instance, it means that two crops are coming off the same field.

“The beans will act to keep the peas off the ground. Moreover, the cropping system also acts to extend the harvest season for peas by up to two weeks,” he said.

“This approach also allows for an element of pre-processing to be carried out on farm.”  

The post Plant protein: Growing the right crops in the right places appeared first on Agriland.ie.

The best way to measure the efficiency of your spread is by calculating the co-efficient of variation (CV) using a tray test. This will assess not only the fertiliser spreading capacity but also the effectiveness of your spreader.

The lower the CV value, the better: A CV of over 15% will result in financial loss as it will be detrimentally affecting soil fertility and crop performance, now and in the long term.

But when testing CV you need to keep one thing in mind: It’s easier to test the CV of a CCF product as it is a true measure of how even each nutrient is being spread. But for a blend, you may see a low overall CV which might indicate a good spread pattern, but it can mask high CV’s for individual nutrients.

The post Yara: Measuring the physical quality of fertiliser appeared first on Agriland.ie.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue has today (Tuesday, September 27) announced details of his department’s 2023 budget, which includes an increase in the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) budget to €90 million.

The 2023 Estimates provide an agreed gross funding package of €2.14 billion for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

The minister has said that this is the highest ever level of funding for the department, and represents an increase of €283 million on the 2022 provision, or a 13% increase overall, to support farmers, fishers, and rural and coastal communities.

Speaking this afternoon, Minister McConalogue said: “This budget supports farm families dealing with the immediate and ongoing fallout of the illegal invasion of Ukraine.

“It also lays the groundwork for strategic supports for the sector over the next five years, through the new €10 billion CAP [Common Agricultural Policy] Strategic Plan. 

“The budget delivers large-scale funding to drive the sector’s environmental ambition, helping improve both on-farm sustainability as well as farmer incomes.

“I have secured up to €500 million in 2023 to support farmers in their efforts to tackle the challenges in climate, biodiversity and water quality. This is real money for real farm families,” the minister added.

TAMS, solar supports and anaerobic digestion

The measures in Budget 2023 include funding for 30,000 places in a new flagship Agri Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES).

“This is largest ever agri-environment scheme ever run by my department. Using a habitats-based approach, delivered through both prescription and results-based actions, ACRES will contribute to improving biodiversity, climate, air and water quality outcomes,” Minister McConalogue added.

The agriculture minister also referred to a range of other measures to support environmental action at farm level.

The minister continued: “I am introducing an €8 million grant aid scheme to support the spreading of lime as well as an enhanced Multi-Species Sward / Red Clover scheme. These will help farmers deal with rising fertiliser prices and move towards the reduction of chemical fertiliser.

“I have also secured an increase in the TAMS budget to €90 million, to fund the proposed large-scale investment in on-farm renewables for farmers, subject to the approval of the European Commission.

“This will help fund the proposed increase to 60% grant rate and a standalone investment ceiling of €90,000 for solar installation. As an immediate step, farm dwellings are now eligible for inclusion for solar panel investments,” he added.

An amendment to the Rural Development Programme (RDP) is also expected to be submitted to the European Commission for approval in the coming weeks.

The minister also said that he would be allocating €3 million in Budget 2023 for each of the next four years, a total of €12 million, to kick-start a farm-based anaerobic digestion sector in Ireland.

Referring to this initiative McConalogue said: “The establishment of a renewable heat obligation will be critical to the success of this initiative, and I am working closely in partnership with the Minister for Environment, Climate Action and Communications to realise the potential of this sector.”

BEEP-S, organics and forestry

Separately, the minister said that he would be seeking EU Commission approval for a new scheme to continue the beef welfare measures which were previously funded under Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme (BEEP-S).

This new scheme will sit alongside the new €150/cow Suckler Carbon Efficiency Scheme, and a €20 million Sheep Welfare Scheme, to support farm incomes and encourage improved environmental and animal welfare outcomes.

Minister McConalogue continued: “I continue to stand by our beef and sheep farmers. I am pleased to maintain the budget for targeted beef and sheep supports of over €100 million.

“This funding will help to alleviate the impact of increased input costs, while also supporting animal health and welfare, and further improving the carbon efficiency of our grass-based and quality assured beef and lamb.

“Beef and sheep farmers will also be well placed to benefit from the enhanced supports for fodder aid, for environmental measures and the supports available for farmers transitioning to organic farming.

“I am also excited about seeing the continuation of the €10 million Tillage Incentive Scheme in 2023. The tillage sector is one that I believe in and I want to see it grow in the time ahead,” he added.

Commenting on the allocations to her areas of responsibility, Minister of State with responsibility for land use and biodiversity, Pippa Hackett said:

“In my own areas of responsibility, I am delighted to have secured the largest-ever budget for organic farming. Funding for this scheme has been increased to €37 million – an 80% increase on last year as we work towards our target of tripling the area of land under organic production by the end of 2027.

“I’ve also secured increased funding for forestry, so that we can build on the ongoing work to reform our forestry system since this government took office.

“This work is by no means finished, and we are currently finalising a new Forest Strategy and a new Forestry Programme for Ireland, which will see supports for a closer-to-nature model of forestry.

“We have also secured a substantial increase in funding for locally led environmental schemes, to just under €18 million. This will fund a large-scale water quality scheme on farms, as well as a new call for new EIPs [European Innovation Partnership] in Q1 2023 on biodiversity, climate, rural environment, and farm safety.”

€13.3 million has also been allocated for an extension to the Farm Environmental Scheme, as well as funding for the Soil Sampling Scheme for another year.

Minister of State with special responsibility for farm safety, Martin Heydon added: “I have prioritised extra resources for farm safety, increasing the dedicated budget to €2.5 million.

“In addition to a further rollout of our farmer health and wellbeing programme On Feirm Ground, I intend to focus on getting more physical safety investments onto farms,” he continued.

Agri-taxation in Budget 2023

Referring to the agri-taxation package that complemented his department’s spending, Minister McConalogue added:

“I am delighted that we could agree a new Accelerated Capital Allowance for Slurry Storage.

“This will help drive further improvements in slurry storage and management as water quality coupled with improved nutrient-use efficiency and reduce dependence on expensive artificial fertilisers.

“Ultimately, this will help reduce emissions. This measure is a strong signal of this government’s commitment to supporting farmers in improving environmental sustainability; and I urge farmers to make use of the three-year window agreed for this initiative, which will be available from 2023 to 2025.”

The government has also agreed on the renewal of tax reliefs including Stamp Duty Relief for Young Trained Farmers and Stock Relief.

“I want to continue to facilitate the transfer of land and holdings on to the next generation in a manner than works for all parties,” McConalogue continued.

“The renewal of Capital Gains Tax Relief for Farm Restructuring and Stamp Duty Relief for Farm Consolidation encourage the consolidation of farm holdings, reducing fragmentation and improving the operation and viability of farms.

“The government has provided welcome supports in response to the current cost-of-living crisis. The continuation of the reduction of excise duty on agricultural diesel to nil is merited and will alleviate costs for the sector.”

Budget 2023 energy and business support

The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) is aimed at providing important support farmers and food businesses.

Qualifying businesses, whose average unit gas or electricity price has risen by over 50% compared to their average unit price in 2021, can apply to Revenue for a cash payment, which will be calculated as 40% of the excess of the 2022 bill over the 2021 bill, capped at €10,000/month/business.

Minister McConalogue added: “Access to finance is a crucial business need and, as well as liaising with the main banks on issues relating to the agri-food sector, I have worked closely with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Minister [for Finance, Paschal] Donohoe on this issue.

“I am happy to announce with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) the development of a new long-term lending scheme.

“The agri-food sector has a demonstrated capacity to plan for the long-term even while grappling with more immediate challenges and the new proposed €500 million ‘Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme’ (GSLS) will facilitate strategic investment by farmers, fishers and food businesses which will ensure their continued viability and sustainability into the future,” the agriculture minister added.

The minister added that the government is also working on a Ukraine Credit Guarantee Scheme to assist businesses, including farmers, fishers and food businesses in meeting their liquidity and investment needs.

The post Budget 2023: Increase in TAMS budget and other agri measures appeared first on Agriland.ie.

Around many a family farm that have older sheds there can often be found vintage machinery made redundant by new technology and progress generally.

Often left to slowly decay, the owners are full of good intent with regard to the preservation of these bygones, but seldom have the time to put it into practice.

On occasion though, the thought is made deed, with one such farm being that of the Kearney brothers, in Littleton, Co. Tipperary.

Patrick and Donal had put away the thresher, or ‘mill’ as they more normally referred to, some years ago, as it had featured largely in their childhood. It had been left for many years before they actually set about getting it back to working condition.

Little history but a lot of family memories

While in many restorations there is great attention to the history of the subject, its age and other significant dates in its life, this particular rebuild was far more a matter of attending to the family legacy, rather than the detailed documentation of a historical artefact.

What is known about the ‘three foot’ thresher is that it was built by Ransomes of Ipswich and is at least 100 years old. There is even the suggestion that it was built around 1890, making it older still.

It is also known that it came to the farm, most likely from England, sometime after the war, and was powered by the same Fordson tractor that powers it today.

It was at work for around 12-15 years before being displaced by a trailed Claas combine belonging to a neighbour.

Out of work but not out of mind

Although the mill was neglected, it was never totally forgotten and had been brought out for various events up until 30 years or so ago.

What is also certain is that when it was parked up in the shed, the front end was exposed to the elements, meaning that there was a considerable amount of damage done to both the cladding and the wooden frame in that area.

Mechanically, there was not too much that needed doing to bring it back into service, the major task of the whole restoration being to remove the rotten front of the frame and replace it with new timber.

The brothers can well remember the mill in use during the 60s, as can Michael Fahy, a neighbour whose father used to help feed the crop into the drum.

It was this gentleman who then purchased the Claas trailed combine before a third brother, now sadly passed away, purchased a pair of Matadors to harvest the rapidly expanding farm, and so the mill was parked up.

A complete set

In addition to the mill, there is also a fully restored straw elevator, but this was not working on the day, the straw being transferred into a waiting round baler by hand instead.

The crop being threshed was oats, and the mill was providing a clean sample with little crop residue or other trash within it.

Indeed, it begs the question as to just how much cleaner would the grain be from a modern combine; there didn’t appear to be a great deal of room for improvement.

The Fordson driving the thresher also arrived on the farm after the war, and is thought to have been built in 1942 or 1943. It was originally on steel wheels but was converted due to the many miles it was doing on the road pulling the outfit around farms.

This was its second running since restoration and a small group of family and friends were gathered together for the occasion.

To see the mill running again was a moving occasion for all concerned and a fitting tribute to the hard work and effort that was put into its restoration.

It may also inspire others with hidden gems lying in dusty corners to haul them out and bring them back to life.

The post Focus: A family thresher brought back to life in Tipperary appeared first on Agriland.ie.

Malting barley production is helping to breathe new life into Donegal’s tillage sector with a total of 1,200ac due to be cut this year.

Of even more significance is the fact that one third of this area has been dedicated to a single winter variety: Craft.

Making all of this work is the recognition by Boortmalt that malting barley can be grown successfully in Donegal, in tandem with the vision of the Devenney family, who own and manage Newtowncunningham-based Agricare & Crop Specialists.

Gareth Devenney told Agriland:

“East Donegal is home to some of the best soils in Ireland. Adding to this is the fact that cereal growers in the county are as good as those found anywhere else in the country.

“However, up to now, farmers here have regarded themselves as second class citizens, given that feed wheat and barley where the only crops available to them. As a consequence, they were always price takers, not price makers.”

Start of malting barley

Back in 2014 Gareth and his brother Jason approached Boortmalt, highlighting, as they saw it, the potential to grow malting barley in the northwest.

The end result of this ‘lobbying’ exercise was a decision to undertake a malting barley trial, using spring varieties in 2017/2018.

This proved successful and was followed by a subsequent trial using two new winter malting varieties from Syngenta.

Gareth further explained:

“The varieties concerned were Pixel and Craft. Pixel is a six-row variety, and Craft a two-row option.

“From the start, it was obvious that Pixel was not suited to Donegal growing conditions. But Craft grows tremendously well under the conditions that prevail here in the northwest.”

Over the past four years, the tonnages of malting barley produced in Donegal have grown exponentially. In year one (2017/18), total output amounted to 350t.

This figure increased to 750t in year two and 2,000t in year three.

“The projected output, covering spring and winter crops this year, is 3,500t,” Gareth commented.

Suitability for malting

Agricare & Crop Specialists now acts as an agent for Boortmalt in Co. Donegal. This entails the supply of certified seed and the provision of the required agronomic advice to growers.

“We also accept all the grain produced by the Donegal malting group at our facility in Newtowncunningham,” Gareth added.

“Prior to unloading, all grain deliveries are analysed to check their suitability for malting.

“Most of the shipments received over the past four years have met the malting quality criteria.

“There were particular problems created by the weather in 2019. But growers have the insurance policy of knowing that barley not suitable for malting can be sold for feed purposes.

“Barley that meets the malting criteria is transported to a Boortmalt facility in Athy within 24 hours of arriving with us.”

Barley for brewing

Barley destined for brewing must have a protein content in the range 9.7% to 10.8%. Only barley with a protein value below 9.7% can be used for whiskey production.

“It takes five years to fully assess a new barley variety’s suitability for whiskey production,” Gareth continued.

“This is why all the Craft consignments that we take in at the present time are destined for brewing purposes only.”

According to Gareth, the vast bulk of this year’s Craft acreage has now been harvested.

“Only 30ac of the 400 are left in the field,” he confirmed.

“Yields have ranged from 2.85t to 4.0t/ac. Straw yields have also been exceptional. Weather permitting, the spring barley harvest will get underway around the third week of August.”

Malting barley farmers

Approximately 30 farmers are growing malting barley crops in Donegal at the present time.

This year has seen a number of them dedicating their entire cereal acreage to a mix of spring and winter malting crops.

“It’s too early yet to talk about prices,” Gareth concluded.

“But in a normal year, growers can look forward to receiving a premium of between €30 and €50/t above the base feed price.

“The past four years have proven to be a revelation for cereal growers in Donegal. Malting barley is now regarded as a mainstream crop option in the county with the prospect of farmers using a mix of winter and spring cropping options an added attraction.

“The acreage of malting barley grown in Donegal is set to increase exponentially over the coming years.

“Our plan is to expand the business into Northern Ireland over the coming years. In fact, this process has already started,” he concluded.

The post Malting barley – Donegal’s best kept secret appeared first on Agriland.ie.

In this Terrachem Cropswatch video John Mulhare discusses his beet herbicide programme and highlights his standard approach to driving yield once the weed control is complete.

The post CropsWatch: Targeting Beet Inputs towards Crop Performance appeared first on Agriland.ie.

As increasing Septoria pressure threatens yields potential – choosing the most robust T2 is essential to maximise profitability of wheat crops.

The post Crops Watch: Dr Robert Beattie on maximising profitability of winter wheat crops. appeared first on Agriland.ie.

Margaret Murphy of Terrachem gives her Beet t1 recommendations.

The post Crops Watch: Spray programmes for cold weather appeared first on Agriland.ie.

Have you ever heard of ‘Smart Beet’? In this installment of the Crops Watch series in association with TerraChem Margaret Murphy gives us all the details.

The post CROPS WATCH: The new beet on the block is ‘smart’ appeared first on Agriland.ie.

In this installment of Crops Watch, in association with TerraChem, Margaret Murphy decides on the next step to take with a crop of Conviso smart beet.

The post CROPS WATCH: Smart beet due fungicide appeared first on Agriland.ie.

In this installment of Crops Watch John Mulhare discusses feeding his beet crop and applying a fungicide.

The post CROPS WATCH: Have you been feeding your beet crop? appeared first on Agriland.ie.

In this installment of Crops Watch Robert Beattie talks about the importance of nutrition and avoiding stress in winter barley crops.

The post CROPS WATCH: Feeding winter barley to avoid disease appeared first on Agriland.ie.

In this installment of Crops Watch Margaret Murphy advises beet growers on a T2 herbicide strategy.

The post CROPS WATCH: Keep ahead of weeds in beet to ensure a clean crop appeared first on Agriland.ie.

In this short video, John Mulhare, an agronomist with Terrachem, examines winter wheat plant roots and compares sowing dates and previous crops.

The post CROPS WATCH: Examining roots on winter cereals appeared first on Agriland.ie.

Terrachem agronomist John Mulhare talks about how early season management in winter barley, can have a big impact on inputs and yields later in the season.

The post CROPS WATCH: Early season winter barley management appeared first on Agriland.ie.

In this instalment of Crops Watch, Terrachem agronomist, John Mulhare talks about building roots early in the season so that plants can get the nutrients they need. This will in turn prevent plant stress.

The post CROPS WATCH: Increasing root growth in winter wheat to help hit potential yield appeared first on Agriland.ie.

James Julian talks to TerraChem agronomist John Mulhare about conservation agriculture on this installment of CROPS WATCH

The post CROPS WATCH: Replacing fungicides with nutrition on winter wheat appeared first on Agriland.ie.

TerraChem agronomist is impressed with the effect that Boron is having on this crop of beans

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In this installment of CROPS WATCH TerraChem agronomist John Mulhare reflects on the winter barley season so far as he shuts the gate until harvest. One thing on his mind is the levels of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus around the country.

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Beet crops are slow to take off due to recent cold weather. The second split of T1 applications was late as a result. In this instalment of CROPS WATCH TerraChem agronomist John Mulhare goes through plans for the T2

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In this installment of CROPS WATCH TerraChem agronomist John Mulhare decides what to do with a spring barley crop at late tillering

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T2 is due soon on this crop of winter barley. Latent mildew at the base of the plant should be watched as temperatures rise.

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John Mulhare has controlled an infestation of rust in his winter wheat and is focusing on the T1 application.

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In this installment of CROPS WATCH John Mulhare deals with yellow rust at T0 and decides on a growth regulator strategy

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CROPS WATCH: Creating a good root structure in spring barley is key Herbicide was applied a week later than planned to this crop of spring barley. John Mulhare, TerraChem agronomist, explains why in this installment of CROPS WATCH.

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In this instalment of CROPS WATCH TerraChem agronomist John Mulhare decides what he will apply to his winter barley which is at GS31.

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In this straight talking installment of CROPS WATCH, John Mulhare, TerraChem agronomist, emphasises the importance of nutrition on winter wheat. He shows the damage the wet winter did to his fields and describes how to take crops out of stress.

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In this installment of CROPS WATCH, John Mulhare, TerraChem agronomist, talks about herbicide rates

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In this installment of Crops Watch John Mulhare talks all about winter wheat

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John Mulhare discusses, how to insure a correct mix for your sprayer

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John Mulhare discusses how to maximise yield

The post CROPS WATCH: Spring barley needs help early to reach potential appeared first on Agriland.ie.

Where back in Kevin Nolan’s winter wheat for CROPS WATCH. John Mulhare, TerraChem agronomist, was deciding what to do with the three different crops of winter wheat on the one farm, two of which are in one field.

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John Mulhare and Kevin Nolan discuss the use of Liquid Fertiliser

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Beet sowing was delayed on John Mulhare’s farm this year. John explains what happened, and what his plan is as a result

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John Mulhare will be cutting costs on his winter barley this season. He describes the thinking behind his strategy in this installment of CROPS WATCH

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In this installment of CROPS WATCH, John Mulhare discusses how early management of beet is key to success.

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In this installment of CROPS WATCH, John Mulhare, caught up with Kevin Nolan of Nolan Farming to discuss Winter wheat.

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John Mulhare, TerraChem agronomist, reflects on a difficult season for winter barley crops and offers advice on how to turn it around

The post CROPS WATCH: Stressed crops needs nutrition appeared first on Agriland.ie.

CROPS WATCH UPDATE: Winter barley on track to produce exceptional yields

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Pig slurry drives spring barley establishment on Kevin Nolan’s farm – with Terrachem

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Crops-Watch Why are split spray applications so important for fodder beet?

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John Mulhare and Kevin Nolan assess a crop of with barley on Kevin’s farm.

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John Mulhare and Kevin Nolan assess a crop of with barley on Kevin’s farm.

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In the second part of the CROPS WATCH series, a collaborative crop monitoring programme between Agriland, Terrachem and Nolan Farming, we take a look at the progress of winter barley and wheat crops. Terrachem Agronomist, John Mulhare, has confirmed that both winter barley and wheat crops continue to show great promise across the country. “Mildew continues to be an issue in barley crops. “However, septoria is prevalent in most wheat crops at lower levels within the crops. This disease can quickly spread to the active growing tips of plants if not tackled quickly and effectively.” Host farmer Kevin Nolan, of Co. Carlow-based Nolan Farming, explained that all of this year’s winter crops are well ahead of what would have been the case in 2016.

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Agriland has teamed up with Terrachem and Co. Carlow-based Nolan Farms to provide a unique crop monitoring service – CROPS WATCH. It will detail bespoke management decisions taken, regarding two of Ireland’s most important combinable crops – winter barley and winter wheat – from now through to harvest. Nolan Farms’ operation extends to 1,300ac; it is totally focused on the production of combinable crops. The current rotation comprises winter barley, winter wheat, winter oats, spring beans, spring oats and oilseed rape. CROPS WATCH will combine a unique video diary of the progress made by the crops in question, backed up by comprehensive features. Also front and centre will be the views of farm owner Kevin Nolan and Terrachem agronomist John Mulhare.

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