The Tillage Edge

Contractors play a vital role in the tillage industry and this week on The Tillage Edge podcast, Michael Hennessy chats to two contractors, Patrick Nolan, who is working close to Athy, Co Kildare and Padraig Noonan, close to Conna in Cork. Both men outline the pressures to completing work during the past 10 days with Padraig saying they have completed most of the spring planting, however he mentioned a shift from tillage to grass in his area which is reducing the overall area this year. Patrick Nolan has more tillage area to plant and feels he is a little more behind due to other demands such as emptying slurry tanks. Both contractors agree the poor winter pushed more work to the spring making it harder to satisfy all customers at once. 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

Life Scientific, is an Irish company researching, developing and manufacturing off-patent plant protection products for the global market. For this week’s Tillage Edge, Michael Hennessy was joined by Ruth Stanley, the Ireland and UK country manager, to tell us a bit more about the company, and by Scott Lovell, from Croplink, who distribute some of their products. Ruth and Scott explain how Life Scientific's manufactured generic products essentially mirrors the original product on the market. Ruth says their R&D team spends a considerable amount of time investigating the exact makeup of the product allowing an exact replica which is acceptable by the registration authority. 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

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

The Teagasc Crops Team have launched the Crop Report Platform which is a comprehensive information hub for the agronomy of crops in Ireland. Shay Phelan and Ciaran Collins, both Tillage Specialists in Teagasc joined this week’s Tillage Edge podcast to chat through the main features of the platform. “Users can get access to information quickly through the new platform and the information is validated with Irish research trials,” explains Shay while Ciaran says that the ability to have this information as a mobile app increases the usability of the information when farmers and agronomists are in the field. You can view it on the web here: https://teagasccropreport.ie/ and download the mobile app here: https://qrco.de/beIvC7 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 the cold weather, oilseed rape is actively growing. Management decisions are needed on most crops in the coming days and weeks and on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, John Spink, the Head of Crops, Environment and Land Use (CELUP) in Teagasc, discusses the tools and management which should be used by all farmers growing oilseed rape to ensure high yield later in the year. John says the Green Area Index (GAI) is a critical measurement for all crops to determine the level and timing for nitrogen. “It is easy for growers to put too much nitrogen onto crops which will reduce yield by producing excessive flowers and also increase lodging,” he told Michael Hennessy. 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

Many farmers are contemplating if their winter crops have enough plants to give a viable return and at the same time, are anxious to start the management of good crops on the farm. On this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, Shay Phelan and Ciaran Collins, who are both Tillage Specialists in Teagasc, chat through the factors that should be considered before taking out a planted crop and managing healthy crops. “Many crops which were poor before Christmas are now looking reasonable and there will be sufficient plants to support a good crop,” explains Shay while Ciaran Collins says it’s a little early for nitrogen in winter barley but the first application with P and Ks is just around the corner on most farms. 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 National Tillage Conference which took place in late January this year, covered a range of topics around research and the future direction of tillage. On this episode of the Tillage Edge, you’ll hear from John Spink, Head of Crops Environment and Land Use in Teagasc, who spoke at the conference on how to calculate carbon use or Green House Gasses (GHG) on tillage farms. John outlined the new tool from Teagasc which incorporates the latest Irish specific information to ensure greater accuracy in the figures. 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

Teagasc are running a series of Winter Crop walks across the country from February 13-16th and on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, Shay Phelan, a Tillage Specialist in Teagasc, chats about what to expect at the walks. As many crops are patchy or have poor establishment, Shay says farmers need to be more proactive in their own crops rather than leaving all of the decisions to the person walking the crops. Shay explains that the winter crop walks will cover all of the main cereals as well as oilseed rape and beans. The walks will provide all attendees with a blueprint around the agronomy decisions in winter crops. Everyone is welcome to the crop walks and for more information go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/events 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 fertiliser supply chain and costs have been very volatile over the past couple of years and on the latest Tillage Edge podcast, Liam Dunphy, the Managing Director of Gouldings, and Peter Scott, Technical Director of The Fertiliser Division in Origin Enterprises Ireland/UK, join Michael Hennessy to talk about the fertiliser market and also Polysulphate. Liam explains how the Irish fertiliser market has shrunk by about a third over the past two year, mainly due to price issues. He is particularly worried about the drop-off in the use of Phosphate and Potash. Peter then gives a rundown of a mined rock called Polysulphate which is rich in potash (11.6%) and sulphur (19.2%), which, Peter says, for tillage farmers, the product is generally within an N,P,K blend. 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

Fertiliser is one of the largest variable costs every year on tillage farms and on the latest Tillage Edge podcast, Dr Veronica Nyhan, a tillage advisor in Teagasc, chats through the benefits of planning the correct nutrients for each crop in 2024. Veronica explains that the basis of a nutrient management plan are soil samples which are up to date. Without these results there is no allowance for phosphate to this parcel. Veronica then explains how the new fertiliser register changes the dynamics of how the Department of Agriculture can use this information during inspections. There is very little, if any, wriggle room for farmers at inspection as the DAFM have a track record of all of the purchases of chemical fertilisers. National Tillage Conference The Teagasc National Tillage Conference takes place on January 31st in the Lyrath Hotel, Kilkenny. The conference will have a mix of research and addressing the current issues both in presentation format and in workshop sessions. For further details of the conference and to register click here: https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/national-tillage-conference-2024.php 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 Teagasc National Tillage Conference takes place on January 31st in the Lyrath Hotel, Kilkenny and on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, Dr Ewen Mullins, Head of Crops Research, Oak Park, Carlow, joins us to talk about the exciting line up and the change of format for the conference this year. Ewen explains the change to the conference format is due to feedback from previous conferences and the desire to improve attendee participation in the discussions. The conference will have a mix of research and addressing the current issues both in presentation format and in the workshop sessions. Ewen highlights the different topics being covered including the exciting research where molecular screening is able to quickly map fungal pathogens which could be of concern to growers through the year. For further details of the conference and to register click here: https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/national-tillage-conference-2024.php 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

This week's episode is a repost of an episode from January 2023 with Professor Mike McLaughlin, originally from county Antrim, who is a Research Professor with the University of Adelaide, Australia and is an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow with Teagasc. Soils are the most important resource the human race has. Without a productive soil there wouldn’t be any farming or food production. Understanding the core functionality of soil is fundamental to a management strategy for a long term productive soil. Prof. Mike McLaughlin talks about the basics of soil and how factors in soils help or hinder nutrient uptake. He also talks about the function of clay and how low pH can affect the very nature of clay including dissolving the clay and affecting the cation exchange function of the soil. Prof. McLaughlin says that when DAP is applied to the soil it starts off quite alkaline but then as the ammonia breaks down becomes acidic which can help with uptake in higher pH 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

Having an optimistic view is one of the cornerstones for all farmers, and although undoubtedly there will be challenges in 2024, there are plenty of areas that tillage farmers can still be positive about. Farmers are playing catch-up in terms of planted area on most farms which may present some difficulties in the early part of the season, but if the weather co-operates, then hopefully farmers can establish the desired crops. To discuss what 2024 holds, Teagasc Tillage Specialists, Shay Phelan and Ciaran Collins join Michael Hennessy on the first Tillage Edge podcast of the year to discuss what to expect and how to plan for the year ahead. Teagasc Survey Teagasc have launched a survey to help identify the areas planted this autumn. The wet conditions have persisted from mid-September to late-November hindering planting in all areas. This loss of winter crop area this autumn looks to be compounded by a lack of seed for spring cereals, which may lead to unsown land on many farms in 2024. Teagasc are asking for as many tillage farmers as possible to participate in order to get the best picture of the national areas as possible. How much planting have you completed this Autumn? Will you plant more winter cereal in Jan/Feb? We would like to get your feedback to create a national picture of winter plants this year and your intentions for 2024. See the link below: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9VQ2CQD 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 are a problem on almost all farms in Ireland and the scale of the increase and the measures necessary to control them is less well known. Black grass is in every county in the country and while it can be relatively easy to keep it out, it takes vigilance. To get a better insight into the topic, this week’s Tillage Edge podcast features Dr. Sarah Cook from ADAS in the UK, who spoke at the ECT Grass Weed Conference in November about black grass and how to eliminate it from farms. You can also view the presentation at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOtyctCulNg&ab_channel=TeagascCrops Teagasc Survey Teagasc have launched a survey to help identify the areas planted this autumn. The wet conditions have persisted from mid-September to late-November hindering planting in all areas. This loss of winter crop area this autumn looks to be compounded by a lack of seed for spring cereals, which may lead to unsown land on many farms in 2024. Teagasc are asking for as many tillage farmers as possible to participate in order to get the best picture of the national areas as possible. How much planting have you completed this Autumn? Will you plant more winter cereal in Jan/Feb? We would like to get your feedback to create a national picture of winter plants this year and your intentions for 2024. See the link below: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9VQ2CQD 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 the end of the year approaches, most tillage farmers will want to forget 2023. Unfortunately it will be remembered as a year of weather extremes and the resulting difficulties. But it is beneficial to look back on how we dealt with the year and if we would have made any decisions differently. To look back on the tillage year that was, Teagasc Tillage Specialists, Ciaran Collins and Shay Phelan join this week’s show. Teagasc Survey Teagasc have launched a survey to help identify the areas planted this autumn. The wet conditions have persisted from mid-September to late-November hindering planting in all areas. This loss of winter crop area this autumn looks to be compounded by a lack of seed for spring cereals, which may lead to unsown land on many farms in 2024. Teagasc are asking for as many tillage farmers as possible to participate in order to get the best picture of the national areas as possible. How much planting have you completed this Autumn? Will you plant more winter cereal in Jan/Feb? We would like to get your feedback to create a national picture of winter plants this year and your intentions for 2024. See the link below https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9VQ2CQD 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