Tillage
Teagasc tillage specialist, Shay Phelan, is confirming that disease levels within spring barley and other cereal crops are very low
Not surprisingly, the condition of many UK cereal crops worsened considerably throughout the entire month of May
The Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) has just published its latest crop development report for the UK.
Teagasc is confirming that some winter barley crops are now coming under moisture stress, particularly those sown-out in light soils.
Tillage farmers in the west of Ireland may look at whole cropping spring cereals in bales as the lesser of two evils
Dairy
Dairy farmers making wholecrop silage from winter or spring cereals should choose the crop’s harvest date according to the farm’s needs.
N.Ireland
Tillage farmers in Northern Ireland are reporting excellent germination rates and plant counts in spring cereal crops that were established.
The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprises (CAFRE) has issued a crop management update, covering cereals and potatoes
Defining what is actually constituted by a winter cereal is an issue that Irish cereal growers may well be facing up to the very near future.
Tillage Technical
All crops are now responding well to the improved weather conditions and growers need to think about how they are going to control weeds.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has published its spring cereal recommended lists for 2023.
Tillage agronomists are strongly recommending that spring barley growers get on with their T2 spraying programmes.
Teagasc is strongly advising tillage farmers to be on the lookout for potash deficiency in spring cereals.
Teagasc has hosted a number of farm walks over recent weeks, at which establishment rates of 85% plus have been the norm for spring cereals.
Farmers wishing to plant spring cereal crops this year have a week, or thereabouts, to get the job completed.
Spring crops have a long way to go before harvest, but knowing the seed availability of the varieties may help with decisions next season.
Tim Shiel is an agronomist with Bolger Agri. He walks crops along much of the Co. Wexford coastline from Kilmore Quay to Courtown.
As the amount of land to be planted gets smaller the focus is turning to fertiliser, and as temperatures increase sprayers will be out.
In this week's Tillage Focus, AgriLand spoke to Bobby Miller. The Co. Laois man has been busy sowing spring crops on his own farm.
Readers are sending in their pictures for Arable April in their droves; the AgriLand competition is heating up.
Spring sowing is underway. Seed rate should be calculated and take in a number of factors.
A small number of tillage farmers have made their way to the fields this week in drier parts of the country.
Replanting isn't a word that tillage farmers like to use, but unfortunately it will be carried out this spring.
