John Dunne, Arable Trials and Agronomy Manager at Goldcrop, joined the Tillage Edge podcast this week to chat about the varieties coming through the system. 

John first discusses the array of existing and new varieties that were on display at the Goldcrop Open day in Cork. 

He outlines the disease pressure in all cereals but is particularly happy that the new winter barley varieties are standing up well against BYDV.  

There are also a number of winter oilseed varieties coming through which have multiple stacked traits including resistance to pod shatter, light leaf spot and sclerotinia.

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 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

Spring crops will develop quickly in the shorter season and timing of the necessary inputs will be difficult.  

Shay Phelan and Ciaran Collins, Teagasc Tillage Specialists, join this week’s Tillage Edge to talk about sequencing the critical inputs to crops.

Shay says growers should be cautious about nitrogen rates to ensure malting barley quality is achieved and Ciaran talks through how to sequence herbicides for broadleaf weed control and canary grass control.   

These topics will be discussed in more depth at the current round of crop walks and for more details on the Teagasc Spring Crop Walks go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/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

BYDV levels are high and it can have a significant negative yield impact in both winter and spring crops.

Dr Louise McNamara joins The Tillage Edge this week to chat about the current BYDV levels in winter crops and how to minimise BYDV in spring crops.

Louise says it is too late to control aphids in winter crops but almost all spring crops are at a high risk from BYDV and it is critical to control aphids with the correct timing.  

For more details on the Teagasc Spring Crop Walks see here: 

https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/crops/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

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