The theme of Seedtech’s crop walk series was mitigating risk and the strategies available to tillage farmers and advisors in 2020 to reduce the risk associated with changing weather patterns and improving certainty relating to profitability, against a backdrop of a changing chemical environment.
Tim O’Donovan, technical director, Seedtech, explained that: “The most profitable and reliable crop rotation on Irish farms, as analysed by Teagasc, is one that includes a proportion of winter cereals.
“This profitability is based on high winter cereal yields, and a good reliable break crop to set up your farm to drill winter cereals at the best time and get the most from your investment. This is important for growers and their agronomists when they are deciding what to drill in 2020/2021.”
In the video (below), Tim advises on some of the best varieties in the market.
Autumn Drill Plan
The challenging weather of 2019 put pressure on the drilling window and compromised the establishment of the crops, which is the foundation of yield.
Tim presented an Autumn Drill Plan to explain how drilling dates can influence your winter cereal choices for 2020.
It is not just a case of drilling earlier than last autumn, Tim explained. Growers and advisors are all too aware of the risks from barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), take-all, increased disease pressure and winter kill, all of which can reduce profits when crops are drilled early, and mild conditions follow.
Seedtech showed its new BYDV tolerant winter barley variety KWS JOYAU, which offers a new era in BYDV management for Irish cereal growers and is suitable for sowing before October 1.
To view the KWS Joyau fact sheet, just click here
Seedtech variety LG Casting, two-row winter barley was discussed. LG Casting is the highest yielding two-row on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Recommended List 2020 with excellent disease resistance and good straw strength.
To view the LG Casting fact sheet, just click here
If you are looking for a longer sowing window and proven yield ability over conventional winter barleys, then Seedtech’s hybrid barley Belfry is the number one winter barley, proven by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine trials and tested in the field.
To view the Belfry fact sheet, just click here
Belfry is the only winter barley to beat control yields in 19 out of 20 Department of Agriculture trials (2017-2019).
Nigel Whyte, general manager, Seedtech, said that “we have seen a significant increase in hybrid barley sales as farmers appreciate that the higher yield potential and unique consistency of Belfry and Bazooka hybrid barley”.
“Growers are using their robust growth rates, increased rooting mass and ability to yield better than conventional barley to produce profitable yields of winter barley across all situations,” he said.
During the crop walk, Tim explained that Graham winter wheat looks set to be the most popular wheat in 2021 due to its reliability. It is suitable for early drilling, provides slow, steady spring growth but is the fastest to ripen, has a bright, clean head delivering well-filled grains and is stiff to stand.
To view the Graham fact sheet, just click here
Seedtech’s Autumn Drilling Plan outlines options to begin drilling Anastasia winter oilseed rape in mid-August and finished up drilling Husky winter oats in early-November, giving growers a three-month window to get the work done.
To view the Husky fact sheet, just click here
To reduce the drilling pressure in October, every tillage grower should at least consider Wosr in 2020. It can be drilled from mid-August to mid-September and will be harvested earlier also.
The benefits of spreading this workload cannot be underestimated and should form part of the decision-making in the coming season.
Tim O’Donovan also looked at why farmers should think about growing winter oilseed rape in 2020. This comprehensive overview gives real numbers on what it will mean for farmers to grow winter oilseed rape, costs, yield, margins etc.
To read more about this, download the fact sheet by clicking here
More information
For more information on Seedtech varieties or for a copy of the Autumn Drilling Plan, see here. Or call: 051-832814.
