Listen: AgriFocus – Weather and tillage with Teagasc’s Michael Hennessy

In this episode Francess McDonnell asks the head of crops knowledge transfer with Teagasc, Michael Hennessy, what is the immediate priority for tillage farmers who have been battling weeks of wet weather which has prevented them from planting crops.

He said there may be a “temptation” for farmers to think the “ground is dry enough to go and do something” but according to Hennessy the current reality in a lot of circumstances is that “it may be a little bit early to go”.

The head of crops knowledge transfer with Teagasc said a day or two’s patience could mean a huge amount.

He said even for ploughing, tillage farmers need patience at this time because the ground needs to be relatively dry because they could do “more harm than good”.

“That old saying well sown is half grown has never been as true,” Hennessy added.

He said what tillage farmers really need now is a “Goldilocks kind of year – not too hot, not too cold – just enough of everything and if we get that we should be okay, I would always be optimistic for that”.

The AgriFocus podcast series takes a closer look at some of the key issues that directly impact on farmers, rural communities and the agri-sector.