The Tillage Edge Teagasc

Teagasc Tillage Specialists, Ciaran Collins and Shay Phelan, joined Michael Hennessy on the latest Tillage Edge podcast to talk about winter crop management over the next couple of weeks.  
 
First, Ciaran touched on the complexity of applying multiple products to crops which have not received any treatment yet. 
 
He says that winter barley which is due to receive broad weed herbicide, plant growth regulator and wild oat herbicides, will need to be assessed carefully as loading the tank can result in crop damage.  
 
Shay talked through the actions needed for winter wheat and he stressed the need to assess growth stages and leaf development as crops are variable across the country.
 
The Teagasc Tillage Helpline on 059 918 3533 is still open from Monday to Saturday, 9am – 9pm, for farmers who wish to get some help and support from the Teagasc Tillage advisory team.
 
 
For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

The continuing poor weather is forcing many farmers to change their cropping decisions and on this week’s Tillage Edge, Ciaran Collins and Shay Phelan, both Tillage Specialists in Teagasc, discuss the benefits and risks of making cropping changes.
 
Shay explains that the choice between planting seed which cannot be returned and leaving it in the shed for next year is made even more difficult as the weeks pass by.  
 
Both Ciaran and Shay point to calculating a Gross Margin for a crop and maximising the payments like straw incorporation measure and the protein scheme.   
 
For those who might like to chat through these options, chat to your advisor.  Teagasc has also opened a Tillage Helpline at 059 918 3533 which is open for the next couple of weeks Monday to Saturday, 9am – 9pm.
 
For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Jim McCarthy joins the Tillage Edge again this week with the latest on managing the 16,000 hectare farm in Romania and to share some insights on the global grain trade.  
 
Jim discusses the agronomy of growing crops in Romania and how the farm is growing most of their crops using less nitrogen but with an increased use of digital farming methods.
 
Jim says the use of precision farming allows grain maize to be planted in exactly the same row as N fixing cover crops allowing a saving of nitrogen.  
 
He points to the reduced grain prices leading to a larger than normal number of farmers who are now in financial difficulties but points out that the Romanian government has stepped in to help these farmers until this harvest.  
 
For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Buffer zones are important to protect waterbodies and Hugh Rooney, a Teagasc ASSAP advisor, joins this week’s Tillage Edge to talk about how buffer zones are necessary and what benefits these areas can bring.    
 
Hugh explains that protecting waterbodies from nitrates, phosphates, sediment, pesticides and organic matter are all crucial to help the healthy status of rivers.
 
He highlights the areas on the farm where three metre buffer zones are necessary and also talks about the need for six metre buffer zones for late harvested crops like potatoes, beet, maize, root vegetables, etc.
 
For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Sean Kelly, who is a Member of the European Parliament for Ireland South, joined the Tillage Edge this week to chat about how EU policy is put in place and the influence farmers can have when these policies are being devised.  
 
Firstly, Sean welcomed the move by the EU to reduce red tape and is keen to follow this through to implementation. 
 
He said farmers and the farming lobby need to have a greater input when the laws are being developed rather than when the new regulation is in the final stages of completion.     
 
Here is a link to the consultation process to reduce the red tape: 
https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/consultations/farmers-consultation-simplification_en
 
 
For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

A recent Signpost farm event on the Kepak farm in Dunboyne, Co Meath focused on the use of slurry on their tillage farm.  Sam Myles, the farm manager, Veronica Nyhan, a soil nutrition specialist, and John Mahon, Signpost Farm advisor, all joined Michael Hennessy on the Tillage Edge to discuss utilising slurry on a tillage farm.
 
Sam Myles explains that the farm produces enough slurry to cover 1,000 acres at 3,000 gallons per acre.  He says the shift to applying slurries to the growing tillage crop has been very successful and substantial savings are being made on chemical fertiliser.   
 
For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com