The Tillage Edge Teagasc

The wet and cold spring in Ireland was mirrored in the US according to Brian Caldbeck, a Laois man, who is farming and running a seeds business in Kentucky, USA, and joins Michael on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast.  
 
Brian says the late planting into poor seedbed conditions will result in small roots which leave crops more exposed to drought and heat stresses.  Although the risks are greater it all comes down to the weather in July.
 
Brian also chats about the US farm insurance schemes which most farmers participate in and he explains that these policies are necessary for farmers who rely on bank credit from year to year. 
 
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

Despite reports of poor weather in parts of Europe, Tim Bergin, a Dubliner who is farming in Poland and is on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, says his crops are excellent and he is hopeful for a good harvest.  
 
However, Tim does outline the very poor conditions experienced over the autumn last year and the lengths needed to harvest potatoes on his farm.
 
The soils on Tim’s farm are clay loam over sand and, if treated right, will drain well, even after heavy rain.   
 
All straw is chopped and incorporated back into the soil and Tim is confident he is building soil carbon each year and improving his soils. 
 
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

As we move towards the end of the growing season, some final actions are necessary on spring crops.  Ciaran Collins, a Tillage Specialist in Teagasc, and Eoin Lyons, a Tillage advisor in Teagasc, join this week's Tillage Edge podcast to discuss the critical agronomy actions needed over the next couple of weeks.
 
On the show, Eoin explains how reduced growth over the past couple of weeks has also slowed the progress of disease, however, he points out that net blotch in Planet spring barley needs to be watched carefully when deciding on the final fungicide application.
 
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

Kilkenny farmer Kevin O’Donnell joins Michael Hennessy on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast to explain how he is getting the best from organic manures on his tillage operation.  
 
Kevin has been using manures for a number of years and is in the process of constructing a large over-ground slurry store.
 
Before importing slurries, Kevin’s advisor produced a Nutrient Management Plan so that Kevin could have confidence in the quantities of manures which can be imported each year.  
 
Kevin says he will use the slurries to build background levels of P and K as well as contributing to current yields.
 
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

Minister of State, Martin Heydon, TD joins this week’s Tillage Edge podcast to talk about the recently published Food Vision 2030 Tillage Report which sets out 28 recommendations to develop the tillage sector. 
 
Minister Heydon says the tillage sector is integral to the fabric of Irish agriculture and is a necessary part for all other areas to work well.
 
He also makes a particular reference to the value of the low carbon Irish grain and how this can support the overall exports from the country.  
 
At the same time, he points to the fact that recognition is all well and good, but tillage farmers need to be rewarded for these efforts.
 
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

Grass weeds can be a serious risk to tillage farmers, and unlike the weather or international markets, grass weed prevention and eradication is something that is in the farmer’s control.
 
Teagasc advisor, John Mahon, and Vijaya Bhaskar, Teagasc weed researcher, are on this week's Tillage Edge podcast to discuss grass weeds and how important it is to be vigilant at this time of year to prevent spread.
 
For more information go to:
https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/grass-weeds/ 
 
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