The total tillage area in the country could decrease by around 26,000ha in 2024 when compared to last year, the National Fodder and Food Security Committee (NFFSC) has heard.
Michael Hennessy, head of crops knowledge transfer at Teagasc, told a meeting of the committee today (Wednesday, January 24) that adverse weather conditions since mid-September have delayed planting and led to poor establishment for many crops.
He said that 78,000-80,000ha planned winter planting had been completed which equates to just 60-62%.
The area of winter barley and winter oats has been substantially reduced, while planting of winter wheat continued up to early December.
Due to difficult harvests in the UK, Denmark and the Nordic countries, Hennessy said that importers are sourcing seed from Estonia and eastern European countries.
However, there are some concerns about the varieties being imported which may not be commonly grown here.
Tillage area
Based on current estimates, Hennessy said that the total tillage area in 2024 is expected to be around 308,000ha.
This is down by 26,000ha when compared with the 2023 figure of 333,700ha.
It is also considerably back on the target under the Climate Action plan 2023 to increase the area under tillage to 400,000ha by 2030.
The 2024 estimated total of 308,000ha, based on crops already planted and available seed, including imports, is as follows:
- Winter cereal area, winter oilseed rape and winter rye: 97,000ha;
- Spring wheat: 12,200ha;
- Beans/peas: 15,000ha;
- Spring oats: 20,000ha;
- Beet: 9,300ha;
- Maize: 21,000ha;
- Spring oil seed rape: 2,000ha;
- Spring barley: 132,000ha
Hennessy said that tillage farmers should carefully inspect crops which are patchy, adding that replanting may not always be a profitable option.
Teagasc is encouraging farmers to plant winter wheat up to mid-February, which may take pressure off seed shortages.
Farmers are also being advised to maximise the planting of spring wheat, beans and oats to ease pressure on spring barley.
Once farmers have planned how they want to manage their land and planting, Hennessey said they should contact their seed merchant as soon as possible.
He added that additional advice may be needed in cases of imported lesser known seed varieties.