Teagasc advisors are indicating that most tillage farmers will stick with the winter crops that they already have in the ground.
A key driver in this regard, is the decision taken by Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) not to penalise farmers this year for crops that do not exhibit full field covers.
Teagasc tillage specialist, Shay Phelan, said: “Winter crops are starting to grow on, so they know the extent of the bare patches that exist in fields.
“Last week’s decision by DAFM was significant. However, it will be followed up by actual visits from department officials and photographic evidence generated regarding the state of fields.”
Teagasc’s Ciaran Collins said: “It’s a case of the good, the bad and the ugly. There’s huge variation across the south of the country regarding the current state of winter cereal crops.
“There was a number of crop walks held last week. It was evident in south Wexford that very little winter crops were put in last back end.
“Normally, this is one of the driest areas of the country. There’s little doubt that some of the stuff sown will need to be replanted.
“Overall, there will be bare fields that need replanting. The actual areas involved might be less than many people had estimated a couple of months ago,” he added.
Another issue facing growers, in the here and now, is the continuing wet weather.
Last February turned out dry, giving growers an opportunity to get on with planting work at that stage. This will not be the case in 2024.
Collins continued: “We have had no planting opportunities at all since the beginning of the year. The fact that growers were not able to get any winter wheat at all during January and February is hanging over the tillage sector at the present time.
“There is a mountain of work facing growers at the present time. And no doubt, they will concentrate on the big jobs: primarily planting spring barley, malting barley and spring beans.
“There is now an opportunity for growers to leave patches in fields as fallow. Given current circumstances, this is the option they will run with.”