Teagasc has confirmed that the 2024 bean harvest will get underway in the Cork area next week, weather permitting.
And despite a late sowing date, in most cases, crops are looking very well with very positive yield potential.
Michael McCarthy is a Teagasc tillage advisor, based in Mallow. He explained:
“Bean crops got the moisture they needed throughout their entire growing cycle. Crops that I have walked over recent days have a high number of pods.
“So, growers should benefit from a combination of good prices, high yields and the availability of the protein aid payment.”
Bean harvest
It is envisaged that beans in the rest of the country will be ready for harvest at the beginning of October. And, here again, the potential of these crops to yield well is very high.
Beans represent a high quality protein source in all livestock diets.
Meanwhile, it’s not too late to sow cover crops – this is one of the key messages that Teagasc is communicating to tillage farmers visiting the 2024 National Ploughing Championships.
“At his stage cover crop mixes comprising oats, mustard and forage rye will perform best”, McCarthy continued.
“Crops established under the ACRES’ scheme cannot be touched until the end of January. After that they can be grazed or ploughed-in.”
According to McCarthy, cover crops play a key role in improving water quality.
“They also absorb soil nitrogen, which can be made available to subsequent crops. In addition, their roots will also act to break through layers of soil compaction,” he added.
With the weather set fair for the next few days, tillage farmers in the Cork may be tempted to drill crops of winter barley.
The Teagasc tillage specialist pointed out that establishing crops of barley too early comes with a strong element of risk: barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV).
“Waiting until the start of October is a better option, from a winter barley perspective. But for those farmers with land available to plant right now, rye would sit well.
“At this stage it is getting late to drill winter oilseed rape,” he continued.
The potential of rye within Irish tillage rotations is fast becoming evident – the cereal is resistant to take-all and will yield well.
However, it is important that growers have a market for the crop prior to sowing.
September sown rye crops are particularly susceptible to slugs. So, growers should take the appropriate precautions.