Tillage Technical
Teagasc is making it clear that tillage farmers should update their fertiliser plans regularly as they seek to use greater levels of manures
Tillage
Wet weather has prevented many from making it to the field with the sprayer with a pre-emergence herbicide on their winter cereals.
Farmers with winter oilseed rape crops should be keeping an eye out for disease on plants at present.
Teagasc has released suggested seed rates for winter barley varieties in 2020, based on planting in October and the wetter conditions.
Pre-emergence is the best way to control grass weeds in winter cereals. However, it's often difficult to achieve in the busy sowing season.
Farmers who have not yet applied a herbicide to oilseed rape crops should consider it sooner rather than later.
As cereal growers across the country finish up spraying, now is a good time to look at management decisions taken over the past few months.
Awns are out on spring barley crops across the country and disease pressure has been low, but it is important to keep crops green.
There are plenty of spring beans about this year and as flowering approaches it is important to keep on top of disease.
T2s on wheat will be going out in the next few days. Any crops receiving T2s after today, May 19, cannot include chlorothalonil.
Next Tuesday, May 19, is the last day that Irish tillage farmers may use chlorothalonil.
As mid May approaches fungicides on winter barley will be wrapping up, while the majority of spring barley crops have to receive a T1.
As spring crops receive weed sprays in the coming days and weeks it is important to provide those crops with nutrition.
Wild oats and other grass weeds like canary and rye grass need to be kept under control in cereal ground.
In the coming days many people will be heading out with a T1 on winter wheat, some crops may already have received an application.
The application of an aphicide to crops is an easy decision for some, but some tillage farmers are turning away from the use of insecticides.
As spring barley crops are appearing across the country, farmers have been and will be applying nitrogen to these crops in the coming days.
Winter wheat crops are at different stages across the country. The majority of winter wheat crops are approaching or at the flag leaf stage.
Early control of disease in spring barley is key, as it is essential to protect the plant's tillers to ensure crops meet yield potential.
This season got off to a dry start. However, recent mixed weather has provided challenges in the spraying season and for fungicide applications.
Farmers are tackling weeds in spring barley. Wild oats may be controlled with broadleaved weeds, when rules are followed.
The final fungicide application on winter barley may be applied anytime between GS39 and GS45 for best results.
In the past number of years BYDV - spread by aphids - has been an issue in spring barley crops. It can cause substantial yield losses.
