The Tillage Edge

James Nolan, a grain trader from R&H Hall, joined Michael Hennessy on the Tillage Edge podcast this week to discuss the cereal harvest around the world and what that means for Irish tillage producers.

James talked about the volumes of maize, wheat, and barley production around the world and noted Russia's large harvest at an estimated 83 million tonnes. This is currently the cheapest supply of wheat in the world.

Closer to home, the difficult planting conditions last year impacted both Ireland and Europe with the result there is less wheat in the system. This is currently driving the price (along with other factors) however James thinks this will reduce overtime.

James commented that there isn't a shortage of milling wheat at the moment although exports of milling wheat from Europe are down by 50%. Up to the middle of this year maize dictated the price of cereals in Ireland however given the current maize harvest (and yield predictions) barley is now the main driver.

James said there were opportunities for farmers to sell forward during this year (wheat in the range €195/t) and added there will be opportunities in the next couple of months but growers should keep an eye on the price differential between barley and wheat.

National Crops Forum

Don't forget the second part of the largest National Crops Forum is taking place this Thursday September 17th @6.30pm, as a webinar over zoom.

The forum will look at the Green Deal and Farm to Fork and also look forward to how the industry may be developed over the next number of years.

To register for the forum please click here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/nationalcropsforum2.php

For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to

https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/

Dr Veronica Nyham from Teagasc, Portlaoise joins Michael Hennessy on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast to discuss important aspects of soil fertility and soil sampling.

Veronica explains that over 50% of tillage soils have low soil fertility (index 1 and 2). Where farmers are using maintenance fertiliser levels on these fields then crop yield will be penalised.

Lime is the most import part of soil fertility and will aid or hinder the uptake of all nutrients. Due to crop yield, rainfall and chemical fertiliser input soils need about 1.5-2.5 tonnes of lime every 5 years.

Veronica emphasises the importance of mapping fields before soil sampling to take account of soil variability. Teagasc are available to take the soil sample through our soil sampler service and then create a Nutrient Management Plan when the results are available.

Finally, the Crops Forum takes place on Thursday September 10th and 17th between 6.30-7.30pm on both evenings. Topics like varieties, BYDV, Green Deal and recommendations for the development of the tillage sector and more will be discussed.

For more information see

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/nationalcropsforum.php

For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to

https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/

The Tillage Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

On this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, Michael Hennessy finds out about the harvest so far from the midlands and the south of the country.

John Kelly, from Teagasc Offaly said there are a lot of difficulties this year with low yields of both grain and straw but there are emerging problems of lodged crops and grain loss.

The position is worse in the south with winter wheat shedding heads and grain resulting substantial grain loss.

Michael McCarthy Teagasc Cork explained that, similar to the midlands, spring barley is struggling to pass as malting barley with only about 50% is expected to pass now.

Another concern emerging, following all the rain, is the deteriorating ground conditions. It is a difficult harvest all round!

For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to

https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/

The Tillage Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

Desiccating potato crops are the topic on this week’s Tillage Edge with Ciaran Collins joined by Shay Phelan, Teagasc Potato Specialist to discuss in more detail.

Firstly Shay gives an update on how crops are progressing as we approach harvest and he then highlights that there are significant challenges facing growers this year with high disease pressure, deteriorating ground conditions and limited options making desiccating crops more difficult.

For many growers this will be the first year that they will try to desiccate a crop without the use of diquat so Shay discusses the alternative approaches and outlines strategies that growers should consider this season and into the future.

For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to

https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/

The Tillage Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

Ciaran Collins joins Shay Phelan on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast to discuss winter oilseed rape as an option for tillage farmers.

Ciaran discusses the performance of the crop this harvest, the benefits of having break crops in the rotation and the early crop management including variety choice, drilling and weed control.

Finally, Ciaran looks at the profitability of winter oilseed rape compared to cereal crops.

For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to

https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/

The Tillage Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

This week’s Tillage Edge podcast with Eoin Lyons discusses harvest 2020 with Teagasc tillage advisors Ciaran Hickey and Conor O Callaghan to see how progress is going to date and how crops are yielding in the south and north-east of the country.

For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to

https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/

The Tillage Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

The function and benefits of cover crops on your farm is the topic on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast and Michael Hennessy was joined by Richie Hackett, Teagasc Oak Park, to find out more.

Richie explained that these crops can catch nutrients such as nitrate (and slow the overland flow of soil thus reducing phosphorus runoff), can protect or enhance the soil, can contribute nutrients to the next year’s crop and can also provide forage for animals. 

The amount of organic matter added by a cover crop will depend on how much growth the cover crop made but in general, the amount of organic matter added by cover crops will be relatively modest. 

However, after ten years of cover crops at Oak Park, there was little difference between that and where the ground was kept bare over the winter. 

Richie told the Tillage Edge that cover crop seed costs can also vary a lot depending on what is being sown.  There will also be mixes with many more than two species but there is very little evidence to support the use of mixes with many species. 

Richie’s advice is to choose a species or simple species mix that will achieve your objectives without causing rotational problems with the lowest cost.  Given that the economic benefits of cover crops are usually fairly modest at best, therefore the main objective should be to keep costs as low as possible.

For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to

https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/

The Tillage Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

This week, the Tillage Edge podcast gets a crops harvest update from the counties of Cork and Carlow with Phelim McDonald of Teagasc, Carlow and Elaine Clifford, Teagasc, Cork joining presenter Michael Hennessy with the latest information.

Firstly, Phelim gives an update on how the harvest is progressing so far in Carlow, explaining that there is between a third and a half of the area completed so far and yields are variable. 

Yields of between 2.2-4.0 tons per acre are being reported, with a big variation between fields.  Fields with heavier soils, in good rotations and those which received organic manures are yielding the most.  Straw yields are approximately half the normal volume.   There are a few winter oilseed crops harvested but no firm reports of yield as yet.  The winter oat harvest will also begin shortly.

Elaine Clifford repors from Cork that there is about 20% of the winter barley area in Cork is harvested so far.  Yields are good with reports of between 3.7-4.3 tons per acre.  Grain quality is good but straw yields are back considerably compared to normal. 

No other crops are harvested so far, with winter oilseed rape at least two weeks away and winter oats longer still as most crops are still quite green.

For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to

https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/

The Tillage Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

Shay Phelan, Crops & Potato Specialist, Teagasc, Oak Park joined Mark Plunkett on the Tillage Edge podcast this week. 

Shay discussed potato blight control, blight programmes, products available and their effective use.

There was also an update on potato crops in 2020 and expected market supply, plus development of resistant strains of blight was also discussed on the programme.

For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to

https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/

The Tillage Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

Pat Farrell, IFA Grain & Horticulture Executive joined Mark Plunkett on this week’s episode of the Tillage Edge with Pat giving an update on the expected tonnage for the grain harvest both locally and internationally as well as prices for 2020. 

Pat also discussed many factors impacting grain prices here in Ireland from maize corn, forward selling to Covid 19.  It was highlighted that oilseeds and proteins crops provide an option of spreading the risk at harvest time plus offer many benefits in terms of rotation and higher cereals yields. 

Finally, Pat gave a very comprehensive update on the straw market and potential supplies for a range of crops in 2020.

For more episodes and information from the Tillage Edge podcast go to

https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/the-tillage-edge-podcast/

The Tillage Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.