Tillage
There are four cohorts of spring barley crops growing in Ireland at the present time, according to Teagasc.
The continuing mild weather has encouraged crop growth but it also brings the spectre of disease pressure within winter cereal crops.
Teagasc is confirming a slowdown in the development of many spring barley crops with soil compaction being the main culprit.
Pushing ahead with the correct disease control strategies for spring barley will be a priority for tillage farmers over the coming weeks.
In terms of disease control, some early drilled crops of spring barley have already received their final fungicide application.
The presence of net blotch has been confirmed in winter barley crops via farms walks held in both the UK and Ireland
