INSIDE THIS ISSUE 03 08 26 - Dairygold Agri Business
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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03 A View from the Field
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08 Market Update
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26 Soil Nutrition
ISSUE 04 - SEPT 2020 www.dairygoldagri.ie
| Compiled by Mary Deane
Dear grower,
As the harvest nears completion, I think we will all breathe a sigh of relief as we see the
fields of straw being tidied up now in lovely condition, yes badly weathered but at least
saved. We will probably look back in many ways and wonder as to “what could have been.”
It’s after being an awfully difficult harvest, as we struggled our way through two major
weather events and then continuously broken weather that gave us little chance to make
decent headway when the crops were ready to be taken off the fields, but we did get there
eventually and gathered what turned out to be a reasonable harvest all considered. Crops WELCOME TO
Trust in
had the potential to deliver very strong yields and indeed the earlier harvested crops did
just that with excellent quality grains being delivered to the mill. In many ways that proved
to be our saviour when as we lost both quality and yield as the weather events took their
Tillage
toll. With all this very quickly put behind us, we now turn our attention to a new season
and start planning again; but before that we should stop and review the last twelve months
activities as its from there that the most valuable lessons can be learnt.
In this edition we will focus on crop rotation and the implications that it can have on your
farming decisions. We will have a brief review of field work in the last two months and our
focus farmer in east Cork will give us his final comments and harvest reports. We will also DAIRYGOLD’S
introduce a new focus farmer, in the northern part of the society this time, who will bring AGRONOMY BULLETIN
a different set of challenges no doubt as the season progresses and we look forward to
TABLE OF
reading his contributions going forward. Ciaran Collins, Teagasc will discuss some of the
rotational and agronomical decisions that should be considered in an effort to protect and
CONTENTS
promote strong crop performances and this will be complimented by an article where
Niall Laffan Dairygold will give an overview of the principles to be applied in deciding good
rotational cropping. Michael English, our ASM in the north & mid Cork area will give a brief
synopsis of the just released DAFM Winter Cereal Recommended list and decisions to be
made around this. Tim McCarthy who represents Dairygold in the south Cork area will give a
detailed summary of the very costly fungal disease commonly known as “Take-All” and the
decisions that we need to take to minimise our
03 A View from the Field
exposure. Frances Nash and Trisha Hayes will
give their updates on all market and associated
06 Harvest Update 2020
harvest issues and briefly touch on decisions
taken by Dairygold to work with the difficulties 08 Market Update
10
encountered this year. Catherine Hurley will
again touch on the very important issue of farm John Farmer Writes
safety which can never be over emphasised
Also, you will find several other contributions 12 Paul Farmer Writes
and articles associated with field work and I
hope that you can drawn some helpful ideas
from them or at least be made aware of issues
14 Crop Varieties
and decisions that need to be taken.
18 Farm Safety
As normal if you have any comments or
observations please contact the undersigned 19 Planning New
who will be delighted to take on board any
worthwhile ideas and all will be treated in 20 Crop Rotation
confidence.
new season,
22 Protein Crop Update
new beginnings
24 Winter Herbicides
Liam Leahy 26 Soil Nutrition
Liam Leahy I.A.S.I.S.
DAIRYGOLD TILLAGE & BEEF BUSINESS MANAGER 30 Take All
CONTACT
Trust in Tillage
086 2441370 lleahy@dairygold.ie www.dairygoldagri.ie
2 www.dairygoldagri.ie
ISSUE 04 - SEPT 2020
A View
24.9.2020
from the Field
| By Liam Leahy Dairygold Tillage & Beef Business Manager I.A.S.I.S.
After a beautiful summer and a dreadful autumn, attention now turns
to the coming season. While there isn’t a lot of activity just now on the 01 Do a complete crop performance review and establish all the
land, it gives us all time to reflect, measure, make informed decisions various costs in a true and balanced way, it is only then that you
and prepare in the best way possible for the season ahead. Good well- can make a proper informed decision on your future crop plans.
thought-out plans and strategy could make you more money than a lot ...................................................................................................................................................................
of poorly planned hard work. Have you that little note book where all 02 Get your crop pesticide records up to date if not completed
these things that you put off until the end of harvest to do are written? already.
Probably not. But you still know most of them and plan to get around to ...................................................................................................................................................................
all over time, and you will, because if they were important then they are 03 Make sure that your nitrate data is completed and compliant.
still important. Such items may include some of the following: ...................................................................................................................................................................
04 Get your soil samples up to date. Recheck part of a field that was
poor and thin when harvesting. There is little point worrying a lot
about the expensive P and K applications if your lime – pH levels
are low. Get land block tested for trace elements once. They tend
to stay relatively static in the soil so there isn’t any need to get
them retested every 3 years. Dairygold will be on hand to help
you in every-way with this job, from taking the samples to
testing and supplying an informed farm plan to the necessary
requirements.
...................................................................................................................................................................
05 Consider applying organic manures if available, especially to
depleted soils, but always make sure that you are within the
DAFM application dates and crop suitability as you are asked not
to apply to ground that certain crops are going to be grown on.
...................................................................................................................................................................
06 Hedges should be tidied up in a way that is compliant with all
environmental schemes and respectful to nature; keep them
structured with a reasonable body to them that will support a
level of biodiversity and sustainability. Hedge cutting period is
1st September to 28th February.
...................................................................................................................................................................
07 Consider sub-soiling where ground has gone very compact.
Present broken weather or ground conditions are not very
suitable for such work as you need the ground to be hard and
brittle as you need the ploughs to crack and burst the pans rather
than slip and slide through them; you will get the right time and
no point rushing into such actions.
...................................................................................................................................................................
08 Study and evaluate the DAFM crop varieties recommended lists
and make informed decisions as to what suits your cropping
plan best. These may include varieties that you can plant earlier
than others, some may suit more exposed sites, the presence of
grassweeds can eliminate certain crops or varieties from your
plan, some may have the advantages of allowing you supply a
valued added market and some seed can be cheaper than others.
...................................................................................................................................................................
TEST: Soil samplings in field 09 Consider crop rotation that includes a non – cereal crop where
possible. Good rotations are worth a lot in both yield and quality
to all crops involved in a good rotation along with affording you
the opportunity to address difficult weeds in places. Crops such
as protein beans, oilseed rape, peas, beet, maize etc…. and, oats
if you prefer a combinable crop.
3
Protein Beans Oil Seed Rape
The final combinable crop left in the field are some protein beans which In the field at present there is little action, except for oil seed rape
are well into harvest at this stage. They are yielding very variable despite that is now approaching the first pair of true leaves, 1 prTL. Very little
weathering the difficult autumn with little losses. They have become a got sprayed pre-emergence as crops "Chitted" very quickly and best
very important crop to many growers at this stage as have proved to left alone at that critical stage. This is ok as there are many options
be excellent as both a soil conditioner and nutrient provider to the soils from early post emergence with Katamaran Turbo and Belcar to later
and a great entry for winter wheat which again will prove to be the best applications in November and December of Astrokerb. The one thing
paying cereal crop in most growers accounts. A few crops were sprayed I would say however is if you get a chance to go in any stage consider
with Round-Up 3 weeks pre harvest to kill off any scutch or difficult taking it as it may be your only chance for a while. Get some advice from
weeds as these grower’s plan to plant straight into this bed either with a you Dairygold ASM as to the various options available and you can make
direct strip drill or after a light disking followed with a conventional one- a more informed decision then. Also continue to monitor for Flea Beetle
pass. Desiccation in the true sense of the word has become difficult now and slug activity as a lot of damage can be done very quickly, especially
with the loss of Reglone; nature will do the same job only have patience. to plants at cotyledon to 2 TL stage.
Stubble Ground
Stubble ground is being sprayed off now also
where winter barley is planned for, there is
no rush yet with wheat ground, especially
if you are concerned as to weather you can
get it planted in October as you have DAFM
compliance issues if sprayed and left barn over
the winter. Other ground has been planted with
catch crops, some in schemes, others just to
benefit soil structure. At this late stage they will
really need some kind weather if they are going
to contribute much to the soil but those in
schemes will be financially covered in any case.
PIC 1: Typical Flee Beetle damage PIC 2: OSR emerging
Maize
Maize in the last 10 days have started to lose is colour and ripen very quickly and I’d expect to see some harvested in the coming days especially the
early maturing verities which will give the added benefit of leaving the ground in great condition with little structural damage. There are excellent
crops there in what can only be described a near perfect growing year for this continental type crop. Both verities and agronomical practices have
really grown with this crop in recent years and is now a main part of many livestock winter forage budget.
Beet
It has been a great year for beet growing with some excellent crops on
view. While its not a major crop any more in the tillage circle, it’s important
to those that continue to grow on contract to livestock feeders as its
invaluable to both their rotation and cash-flow. Most crops were sprayed
in early August with Opera to prevent foliar diseases and maintain good
leaf and crowns which is essential for harvest lifting especially if leaving
some in the ground until the new year. Crops remained clean in most cases
even though two herbicide applications were common but had the benefit
of a very competitive crop thereafter. Some crops are showing a significant
amount of leaf and crown damage; while some of this is old damage done
by generation 2 and 3 of Mangold fly , there is a considerable amount of
crown rot caused by lack of Boron due to erratic uptake or simply not
enough applied.
4 www.dairygoldagri.ie
Peas 14 May 2020 10 June 2020
ISSUE 04 - SEPT 2020
Vegetables
Vegetables are now grown mostly by small garden growers who are specialising in local and
shop direct trade. It’s great to see top quality produced with pride and local people supporting One asks at times what
it. There are a few specialised large scale growers also who produce under contract for the large
wholesalers and they likewise farm with great care and attention and can often find themselves
is a contract if it can be
exposed to shifting market conditions outside of their control but still suffering the brunt of it. changed so readily
One event that is causing big concern to these growers at present is the whole area of Brexit as it
is causing extra imports into the home market as UK growers try and shift product early to avoid
possible tarrifs next year.
Potatoes Beetroot Table Turnips
P o t a t o e s Local Beetroot is Table Turnip are also a crop grown locally and
growers are now also being harvest again with their own problems. There planted
commencing at present both for in mid-summer into a times very dry soils like
the autumn industrial and shop this season and a lot had to be replanted as
harvesting lift sales. The yields are good, and the market is failed to establish successfully; also, they
where they taking all offered to it. Again, it’s a contract got heavily attacked by flee beetle and that
require good trafficable ground both for the market and needs good planning to ensure a just wiped them out. They can be difficult to
benefit of lifting this crop but also leaving the constant flow of properly sized roots that suit establish and need to
ground in some reasonable state for the next your given market. grow quickly as they
crop. The gear is big for output reasons and need to compete
damage can occur in broken weather. The loss with weed burden
of Reglone this year has proven to be difficult Onions later. Again, a very
to replace with the new product, Spotlight Locally growing specialized crop,
Plus, as they are both slower to work and onions for the shop grown by specialized
very reliant on hot sunny weather for best trade were harvested growers for contract
effects, not in abundance locally this year. some weeks ago in markets. Like most other vegetable crops,
Growers have persisted and are getting the great conditions which will help no end to they have a big labour requirement, often in
crops burnt down but always fear late blight their storing. There were good yields and difficulty weather but are rewarding when all
when the crop is injured and more exposed again also grown for specialized contracted goes well, sometimes even exported.
during this prolonged senescing period. markets by specialized growers.
There was a late degigation given to a low
application of Reglone but was late both for
the law abiding grower and the trade who got
no time to assemble supplies. The market has
been difficult in recent times with slow sales
particularly for non-contract manufacturing
potatoes but also for shop sales despite all
that we read about the big increase in home
cooking. While crops have reasonable yields,
quality have been an issue with very big
potatoes from lower tuber count crops; these
potatoes can be difficult to sell particularly
in an over supplied market. Some varieties Cabbages/Broccoli
are also slow in maturing especially Ker Pinks Cabbages, Broccoli have had a difficult
despite its medium maturing label. Eating year as they just don’t like this wet humid
quality is excellent and hopefully the market weather. While yields are ok, the maturing
will correct itself over the coming weeks and dates are difficult to manage as too much
months as potatoes are an expensive crop can come on to the market together despite
both to grow and store resulting in few but their staggered planting dates. Again, this
very expertise growers and they need to be depresses prices and very quickly leaves little
supported. margin to the growers in what is an awfully
labour-intensive operation with high costs.
5
Harvest
UPDATE 2020
| By Trisha Hayes B.Ag.Sc Agri Graduate
It would be safe to say that few of us will be sad to see the back of did provided a much needed opportunity to get combines into the field
Harvest 2020. It has been a difficult year for the Tillage farmer. The and put an end to the harvesting of cereal crops for 2020.
early days of the harvest saw a super quality crop in terms of protein,
moisture and bushel across all grain taken in by the society in early At the time of writing we have received over 91,000tn of grain into the
August. Spring Feed Barley averaged a moisture content of 18.5 Society, with the cereal harvest almost complete. In recent days we
with an average bushel of 65kph. Malting Barley although excellent have seen the harvest being on our winter and spring bean crops. With
in terms of grain quality tripped at the final hurdle when it came to an increased interest in protein crops and maximising the use of native
skinned and green grains. protein in animal feed over 12,950ha of beans were sown in Ireland in
2020. This figure is up from 7,443ha in 2019. Fingers crossed the recent
Due to the exceptionally wet Autumn in 2019 the area planted to winter spell of dry weather will continue for the coming days until we see all
wheat, barley and oats declined by approximately 40%, while the area beans gathered from the fields. For the minute we drudgingly thread
planted to spring cereals increased by 58%. This meant that a significant towards the final days, hours, minutes of what has been a tremulous
amount of crops were still in the ground when two summer storms, Harvest 2020.
Storm Ellen and Storm Frances, hit the country mid harvest. Farmers
across the country felt the severe impact of the bad weather which fell Average Moisture Average Hectolitre
at a crucial time for many who were hoping to get this year’s crop saved. Grain Type
2020 YTD 2020 YTD
Fields of crops were flattened by prolonged periods of wind and rainfall. Winter Feed Barley 18.5 65
All over the country heads of barley, which are the most vulnerable part Spring Feed Barley 20.3 62
of the crop, were lying on the ground after harvest. Malting Barley 18.7 63
Feed Wheat 20.1 72
Grain quality continued to deteriorate as bushel fell, moisture levels rose Oats 18.7 52
and yields steadily declined. However, the early weeks of September Oil seed Rape 9.9
2020 provided a morsel of relief for the grain farmer when a break came Feed Beans 22.4
in the weather. With little hope of recovering the grain quality this break
6 www.dairygoldagri.ie
ISSUE 04 - SEPT 2020
Take control of your grass and
broad-leaved weeds this autumn
Firebird is widely recognised as the standard pre-emergence herbicide for early
control of annual meadow grass weed and broad-leaved weeds in winter barley
and winter wheat.
Firebird should also be applied as the first step as part of your anti-resistance
strategy for the treatment of bromes and other problem grass weeds.
Small steps today, For more information on Firebird visit
big rewards tomorrow. http://www.bayercropscience.ie/firebird/
Leading the way
in crop variety
improvement
since 1985
Cereals | Forage | Grass | Oilseeds | Pulses
www.goldcrop.ie
7
Market UpDate
A look at futures
| By Frances Nash BA (Hons) UCC Grain Operations Agri Business.
Email: frnash@dairygold.ie
It has been a tough year, there is no doubt that few that many of the “big hitter” cereal producers, such
of us will be sorry to see the back of Harvest 2020. as Canada, Russia and around the south pacific will
have large stocks come the end of the season. This
Crops suffered significant fall off in yields as weather will only mean one thing, exportation. Naturally, as
conditions went against us in what should have been the supply (stock) increased, demand decreases,
peak harvest time. Minds now shift from the field to which will drive down the price. All is not lost yet; it
the money & markets. On the foot of a poor harvest, is a positive sign to see any market strengthen and
there is light at the end of the tunnel. Markets started it is certainly encouraging news in the midst of the
off at a low base earlier on in July, where prices were recent despair of harvest 2020. Oil seed rape is too
not much different to what we had seen all year. showing optimistic trends in the recent months with
a November price tag of €382/t. This is the highest
However, markets did rally again and recover to levels November price offered in some time. All these
similar to last season and above at times which will factors along with the medium and long term futures
help greatly when the industary look at setting final will be part of the price setting mechanizm and over
prices in the coming weeks. This, however, comes the coming weeks it usually becomes more aparent
with a health warning, there are many factors that as to what are the true harvest fact of 2020
will dictate prices but primarily it is basic economics
– supply and demand. The global prediction for
Harvest 2020 has risen once again. This will mean
8 www.dairygoldagri.ie
ISSUE 04 - SEPT 2020
UNLOCK YOUR SOILS POTENTIAL
By using Gran-Lime to maintain optimum soil pH
GRAN-LIME
Fast acting and convenient
Improve nutrient use efficiency by maintaining optimum soil pH
BENEFITS OF GRAN-LIME
Helps maintain soil pH Spread with conventional spreader Ideal for reseeding
Increases availability of soil N, P & K Can be used in conjunction Grassland can be grazed
Using Gran-Lime will help to with urea-based fertilisers immediately after spreading
increase grass yield and quality Helps maintain soil structure Improves soil carbon sequestration
CARING FOR YOUR SOILS FOR OVER 160 YEARS
For further details please contact your local fertiliser stockist
or Goulding Fertilisers on 021 4911611 www.gouldings.ie
9
John Farmer
WRITES 2019/2020
| By John the Framer Dairygold Contributor.
Harvest 2020 has come to an end for me, the end of what was an ideal
growing year in many ways for us farming in the southern part of the
Winter Wheat
My winter wheat was my star crop this year; with both crops, Bennington
country. Nature bit back as it neared the finish line and we had one on the
and Graham cutting in 4.9tn average at about 21/22% moisture as I
most difficult harvests I’ve seen in my lifetime. I was young in 1985/86
harvested them a little early due to a poor forecast and that’s one thing I
but still have vivid memories of the difficulties those times, like this year
got right for a change. They stayed very clean right up to the end with no
with gear stuck in fields while a real salvage operation was carried out to
fusarium showing and had a KPH of 77. The Bennington harvested 5tn,
save crops that had moderate to poor yields after. The issue was we had
while the Graham was 4.8. While I’m growing wheat, this must go down
another difficult year in 1986, but difficult as we wanted a bounce back
as my most successful season ever, even though I did spend a fortune on
from 1985. I suppose what really proved its worth those years was sugar
fungicides which goes with a crop down in the south of Ireland. The one
beet as it was near always a saviour in the times of a poor harvest. All
thing that I did notice late in the year was a lot of very noticeable tipping
memories now unfortunately
on the Graham and it just took the gloss off it a little. I sold the straw no
problem to my usual contractor as we have a good understanding and I
Winter Barley want him as much as he wants me, so we are fair to one another.
On the crop front, my winter barley yielded 4.2tn per acre at 20%
moisture, all Belfry. As I mentioned in my previous article some of it LESSON FOR 2020
lodged due to no PGR applied and that was the heaviest of the crop Whether it’s the new chemistry, variety
after beet. The rest after wheat stood up by and large as was visually
resistance or just the year; the crop
thinner and baled 1 square bale less to the acre at 5.5. Surprisingly it
out yielded the heavier crop, but I suppose that was due to the lodging remained very clean and I intend to follow
and the pigeons did attack it, not crows. I would say that 3.8 and 4.4 the same program for 2021 as much as
tons respectively were where the yields of the 2 fields ended up; happy possible.
enough as it looked promising all year.
LESSON FOR 2020
keep the nitrogen levels high and early Winter Beans
The Winter Beans were harvested on the 3 Sept and yielded 3.1tn per
and ALWAYS apply a late PGR to 6 row acre at 20/21 % Moisture, awaiting result yet from Dairygold, which
winter barley. I’m delighted with. While they looked too thick all summer, they were
normal enough to harvest, stood up reasonably well and compensated
well with pod vs stem ratio. I only sprayed them twice for disease, so that
was a bonus, but I wouldn’t be planning on that every year. I chopped
the haulm and I’m tempted to just spray off the green trash around the
field, disc and one-pass winter wheat direct into the tilt. There probably
isn’t a lot saved when I must do all these things but it’s tempting as the
soil is like snuff at present.
LESSON FOR 2020
winter beans do work (for 2020
anyway) but be brave and cut back the
seeding rate.
10 www.dairygoldagri.ieISSUE 04 - SEPT 2020
Peas that happened agronomically from the day it was planted right up to the
4th of August was textbook correct, all happening in excellent weather
My peas is where the wheels fell off the waggon. What promised so much
only to be beaten at the barn door. The straw got baled eventually after
all year got hammered by the wet and stormy weather. It both flattened
turning and tossing a few times, ending up with 9.5 bales to the acre not
the crop to a large degree but worse it caused extensive pod shatter
bad, sold and collected by my usual few customers but no price agreed
where a lot of the pods shed their peas onto the ground from very weak
yet; what I want is a fair market price that reflects the efforts and risk
and fragile pod sets that seemed to decay with the weather. I had high
involved in saving this crop as it’s not always plain sailing as this year
hopes for this crop all year as they looked and grew beautifully, but I was
showed and you carry all the risk
certainly put back in my box and will need to review as to where do they
go from here. Should they have been desiccated earlier and harvested at
LESSON FOR 2020
a higher moisture? And, if so desiccated with what? Should winter peas
be looked at? Finally, if we had normal harvest weather what would they Make use of every minute to harvest
have turned out like? Unfortunately, at this stage I can only guess. I got your spring barley once it’s at 21% moisture
1.6tn to the acre but had a difficult job harvesting.
or below.
LESSON FOR 2020
Difficult crop in wet weather and we get
our share of that, back to the drawing Fodder Beet
The fodder beet was so sick in mid-May after I burned the hell out of it
board. with my T1 herbicide due to the presence of mangold fly larvae that I
near gave up on it, now it’s some crop. I sprayed it twice and while it’s far
from spotless, it’s ok as there’s a scattering of late germinating fat hen
throughout it but considering from where it came from, its fine. In any
case that weed will have died back by November and won’t cause any
harvesting issues. It is a bit gappy as I lost plants early on from the T1 and
mangold fly problem and as a result there are very big roots in places,
probably a nuisance as will only result in harvesting losses. This Mangold
fly problem occurred at least once if not twice again during the season as
there were 2 if not 3 generations of this pest this year but the early one
is by far the most damaging, I feel. I sprayed it in early August with Opera
for leaf diseases as I always do as I find it very beneficial especially for late
harvesting. Now all I want is my neighbourly farmer to honour his side of
the deal and all will be good. He has paid me a deposit as he promised,
just hope he can use it all as its looks like a very big crop. The fat can be
PIC : Lodged peas on 23 Aug 2020 taken from this crop very quickly if you are left with unsold beet or cheap
sales to clear out the residue. I planted 15 acres and the agreed deal was
for 400tn, probably a bit over the top in hindsight
Spring Barley
My spring barley was harvested over a period of time, starting around LESSON FOR 2020
3rd August, very early as the crop was ripe despite very strong straw, revert to a gentle 3 spray program and
where I got really good yields of Planet malting barley, all passing for
malting with a KPH of 65 to 67, at moistures of 20% and very low protein
manage mangold fly control differently; how I
of 9%. The weather then broke, we had a bad storm and very quickly it don’t know yet, a French man might help me.
started to take from the crop. It took 3 more attempts to finish it which
I did on 30th August in blazing sun, but the yields had deteriorated a
lot at that stage from the highs of the start. I’m still happy as my overall
average was 3.2tn, ranging from 3.7tn/ac at the start and finishing with
Finally, I’d like to thank you for going to the bother of
2.8 of poor quality grain with bushels of 59 and 60. Surprisingly I failed
reading my three pieces during the year. Hopefully
to fill my roasting contract as the main concern for Dairygold was that I
you got something from them or at least relate to what
had to have a KPH of 63 plus and that I hadn’t in the finish as it seemed
issues I encountered.
to slip a lot after the weather events. Noticeably some fusarium and a
lot of skinned and damaged grains starting to show at that stage also;
Now we will put this season behind us and move on into
basically, the crop had weathered a lot and lost a lot of its quality and it
a new season; all in all, this was still a reasonable year all
was plain to see. Truthfully, I was disappointed as I felt that everything
considering.
11Paul Farmer
WRITES
| By Paul Farmer North Cork Tillage Farmer
I am a tillage farmer based in the North Cork area and have been
suitable chemicals available when deciding herbicide programs
asked to write for the Trust in Tillage publication as to what is
to the tillage crops. After the winter barley harvest, we shallow
happening, and discuss decisions made on our farm for the coming
tilled the stubble and burned it off with Round-Up Power-max
cropping season. We are working 250 acres of owned land, farming
7 days before ploughing for the OSR. The plan now is to apply a
a mixture of winter and spring crops in very heavy natured soil’s
low rate of herbicide at expanded cotyledon stage of the crop
that can prove challenging at times. We are strong advocates of
if weather allows, a graminicide in October to control volunteer
crop rotation and try to have a complete break with a non-cereal
cereals and grassweeds and Astro-kerb will be applied in mid-
crop every 6 years while all cereals are rotated around a mixture of
winter even at the expense of doing some ground damage in poor
wheat, barley and oats. During the next 12 months, I will give you an
weather as needed to control broadleaf weeds and grassweeds
honest assessment of all that is happening and the issues that we
again maximising our efforts to control the blackgrass. Depending
encounter along the way, hopefully culminating with a satisfactory
on the findings by Teagasc on the sample sensitivity, we will be
harvest next summer. We will make mistakes and you may not agree
aiming for LATE planted, November only, winter wheat or spring
with all that we do, but we are always trying to do our best, follow
cropping in this area here- after for 4-5 years as cultural control is
the best agronomical advice available both from our Dairygold ASM
probably the most effective means of suppressing the weed. As
and Teagasc and we tend to put the environment and sustainable
we have a large area of OSR we planted 2 varieties, Ambassador
type farming top of our agenda. If you have any comments, please
and Aurelia, both are Hybrid varieties and have the TuYV (Turnip
send them to the editor who will reply in confidence to you only, if
Yellow Virus) resistance gene in their breeding as this is now been
necessary.
spoken of as a significant problem in some WOSR crops as it can be
in cereal production with BYVD (barley yellow dwarf virus). We are
We have struggled to save our crops this year as the wet underfoot
monitoring the crop for both slug and flea-beetle activity and they
conditions just made a difficult harvest more challenging, but
will be treated immediately if required. We will apply slug pellets
we have succeeded in getting it all saved at this stage except for
to the headlands in any case to prevent winter grazing around the
the spring beans that are now about to be harvested. Earlier this
crop verges as slugs tend to move out from the grassy headlands
month, 6th September, we planted oilseed rape, new to the farm as
into the crop during the winter months.
we moved away from it several years ago as we found it technically
more difficult to grow with constant challenges from both pests
Our other crop plans are winter wheat after the beans, probably
and birds. We decided to go back growing it for a totally different
Graham; winter barley after last years wheat, Belfry; oats winter
reason this year; we found a few patches of blackgrass in our winter
or spring depending on the weather, Isabel and 100 acres of spring
barley and had little choice but to tackle the issue head-on. Firstly,
barley. The spring barley may change a little if we get an early spring
we introduced WOSR back into the rotation. By planting WOSR we
as we will plant early spring beans if the opportunity presents itself.
have an opportunity to use a range of grassweed herbicide on the
area which are giving a good level of control once the species are
All the lands are due for soil sampling this autumn which will be
sensitive to the chemical.
completed in the coming weeks; it’s completed every three years.
Hedges will be trimmed over the winter and we plan to spray all
When we discovered the blackgrass plants late last May, we
the headlands this year as scutch coming from heavy ditches has
immediately burnt out a few areas in the winter barley crop but I
become a noticeable issue this autumn.
fear that some may have seeded at that stage as they were quiet
advanced when they started to appear over the crop canopy ;
typical of all rogue plants such as wild oats, canary-grass and now
blackgrass. We have also sent samples to Teagasc in Oakpark
for identification and chemical sensitivity readings which
Let’s hope now for some nice dry weather that we can get
will help us identify and apply the most
our winter crops planted, into good ground as it will stand to
them greatly for the late winter and put the difficult harvest
behind us and move on. I will give you an update in the next
edition of Trust in Tillage of any issues arising and hopefully
will be commenting on our winter crop progress and pending
decisions around them as they develop.
12 www.dairygoldagri.ieISSUE 04 - SEPT 2020
Flight ®
Continually soaring above the threat of weeds
What is Flight®
A pre/early post emergence herbicide for use on
all varieties of winter barley and winter wheat
Why you should
choose Flight®
• Broad-spectrum control of
broadleaved and grass weeds
• The best start to wild oats control
• Two complimentary modes of
action for long-lasting activity
• Flexible timing
• Excellent crop safety
Flight is a registered trademark of BASF. Flight contains pendimethalin and imazamox. Use plant protection products
safely. Always read the label and product information before use. For further product information including warning
phrases and symbols, refer to www.agricentre.basf.ie. Pay attention to the risk indications and follow the safety
precautions on the label. Triple rinse containers and invert to dry at time of use.
flight.indd 1 19/09/2019 10:36
13Crop Varieties 2021
Recommended Lists
| By Michael English I.A.S.I.S. Dairygold Agribusiness
This is the time of year when farmers select the best varieties to suit Moderately susceptible to mildew and susceptible to Rhynchosporium.
each farm. When choosing a seed variety, it is important to look at the Good resistance to brown rust and net blotch. Very good grain quality
following: rotation, site, yield, resistance to disease especially mildew, with a very good hectolitre weight.
rhynchosporium, brown rust and net blotch, we also need to think of
KPH and the quality of the grain.
KWS Infinity
Variety selection should start at the DAFM recommended list, new A moderately early maturing two-row variety. Short straw with good
edition 2021 included, where varieties need to have a minimum of three resistance to lodging and moderate resistance to straw breakdown.
years’ trials to get on this list. Moderately susceptible to mildew. Good resistance to Rhynchosporium
and net blotch. Moderate resistance to brown rust. Large grain size with
There are no new additions to the winter barley recommended list good grain quality.
for the 2020/2021 season and one variety Quadra has been removed
from DAFM list. Both LG Castings and Valerie remain provisionally KWS Kosmos
recommended this year. There is however a new verity in the market An early maturing six-row conventional variety with very high yield
that is currently going through DAFM test, Year 3 2021, which will see potential. Long straw with moderate resistance to lodging. Susceptible
it being introduced as provisionally recommended for 2022 season to straw breakdown. Very good resistance to mildew. Good resistance
unless something unforeseen happens; that is a conventional 6 Roe to brown rust, net blotch and Rhynchosporium. Reasonable hectolitre
verity called KWS Joyau. The attraction of this variety is that it offers weight.
strong tolerance to BYVD and therefore will be considered as an ideal
variety for planting early in the season or in known high risk areas. It has
a low scoring for mildew at 5 and care will need to be taken in this case. Pixel
The control varieties have been amended from Cassia/Tower/Quadra A very early maturing conventional six-row variety with very high yield
to Cassia/Infinity/Belfry. As a result, the reference yield of 100 has potential. Moderately short straw with good resistance to lodging.
increased by 0.28t/ha (3%) and this has raised the bar for all varieties, Susceptible to straw breakdown. Susceptible to Rhynchosporium.
resulting in a downward rating for most varieties. Good resistance to mildew and brown rust. Moderate resistance to net
blotch. Small grain size with a good hectolitre weight.
Recommended List 2021 Provisionally Recommended
Notes on Varieties
LG Casting
Bazooka An early maturing two-row variety with high yield potential. Short
An early maturing hybrid six-row variety with very high yield straw and moderately susceptible to lodging and straw breakdown.
potential. Very long straw with moderate resistance to lodging. Moderately susceptible to Rhynchosporium. Good resistance to brown
Moderately susceptible to straw breakdown. Very good resistance to rust and net blotch. Very good resistance to mildew. Good hectolitre
Rhynchosporium. Moderate resistance to brown rust and mildew. Good weight.
resistance to net blotch. Small grain size with a good hectolitre weight.
Valerie
Belfry A very early maturing two row-variety. Short straw with moderate
An early maturing hybrid six-row variety with very high yield potential. resistance to lodging and straw breakdown. Good resistance to brown
Long straw with good resistance to lodging and moderate resistance to rust, mildew, net botch and Rhynchosporium. Very good grain quality
straw breakdown. Very good resistance to Rhynchosporium. Moderate with a large grain size and a very good hectolitre weight.
resistance to mildew. Good resistance to brown rust and net blotch.
Small grain size with a good hectolitre weight. Where BYDV is a major concern, KWS JOYAU heralds a
new era of BYDV management for Irish winter barley
growers. This is a conventional 6-row winter barley that is
KWS Cassia tolerant of BYDV by limiting the multiplication of the virus
A moderately early maturing two-row variety. Short straw with good
within the plant.
resistance to lodging and moderate resistance to straw breakdown.
14 www.dairygoldagri.ieISSUE 04 - SEPT 2020
How to calculate seeding rates
The 1000 grain weight on all recommendation sheets is a 3-year average Please see th following 3 tables that will act as the base for you seed
and one should always take the calculable figure from the actual seed calculations with target plant populations and expected field losses after
purchased as stated on each pack. . including the stated 1000 grain weight from each pack.
| Important Calculation | Winter Wheat
Target TGW of Kg Sept Sept Oct Oct Oct Oct Nov
Expected Sowing Date
No seed Multiply seed per Divided Equals seed 3rd 4th 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 1st
Establishment (week)
week week week week week week week
/ Sq. MT pack / Ha
260 X 48 ∕ 90 is 139 Target plans m2 230 240 250 260 270 280 290
Sowing seeds m2 256 282 313 347 360 400 446
| Winter Barley % Establishment 90% 85% 80% 75% 75% 70% 65%
Sept Sept Oct Oct Oct Oct
Sowing Date
3rd 4th
| Winter Oats
(week) 3rd week 4th week 1st week 2nd week week week
Sept Sept Oct Oct Oct Oct
Sowing Date
Target plans m2 260 270 280 290 300 310 3rd 4th
(week) 3rd week 4th week 1st week 2nd week
Sowing seeds m2 289 318 329 387 400 443 week week
% Establishment 90% 85% 85% 75% 75% 70% Target plans m2 300 310 320 330 340 350
Sowing seeds m2 353 388 427 471 523 583
% Establishment 85% 80% 75% 70% 65% 60%
| Winter Barley 2021
RECOMMENDED PROVISIONALLY RECOMMENDED
AGRONOMIC & QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS *
KWS KOSMOS
KWS INFINITY
KWS CASSIA
LG CASTING
BAZOOKA
VALERIE
BELFRY
PIXEL
Relative Yield * 107 109 95 97 106 105 100 99
VARIETAL TYPE 6R(H) 6R(H) 2R 2R 6R 6R 2R 2R
Straw Height (cm) 100.0 91.0 83.5 80.5 90.1 86.3 79.1 79.6
Resistance to lodging 6 7 7 7 6 7 (5) (6)
Straw breakdown 5 6 6 6 4 4 (5) (6)
Earliness of ripening 7 7 6 6 7 8 (7) (8)
RESISTANCE TO:
Mildew 6 6 5 5 8 7 (8) (7)
Rhynchosporium 8 8 4 7 7 4 (5) (7)
Brown Rust 6 7 7 6 7 7 (7) (7)
Net Blotch 7 7 7 7 7 6 (7) (7)
GRAIN QUALITY
Screenings % (New 2021 Winter Wheat and Oats DAFM Recommended Lists
Winter Oats
Husky and WPB Isabel will again be the two main varieties this year with over 95% of the seed. Husky have been the most popular variety grown with
a superior hardness score. The variety Isabel survived extremely well during stormy conditions over the past few months.
Husky WPB Isabel
Fully recommended variety which is now the largest variety grown in Exciting new spring oat variety from Wirsum Plant breeding which
Ireland at almost 60% of the acreage planted. White oats with good in over 30 years of trialling by Goldcorp, is the first variety which has
KPH and kernel content when sown both in winter and spring. Most consistently out-performed Barra on grain quality attributes. ISABEL
popular variety for autumn sowing due to a superior winter hardiness is a Husky cross also boasts very high yield potential together with
score. Early maturing, moderately resistant to mildew, but prone to excellent straw strength and lodging resistance. It also displays good
crown rust. disease resistance making it an all-round very interesting proposition.
Now included on both Winter and Spring Rec Lists where is stands out
on all agronomic traits - yield, straw strength, disease resistance, grain
quality. Good choice for organic growers also.
| Winter Oats 2021
RECOMMENDED PROVISIONALLY RECOMMENDED
AGRONOMIC & QUALITY
CHARACTERISTICS * BARRA DELFIN HUSKY KEELY RGT SOUTHWARK WPB ISABEL
Relative Yield * 95 111 105 104 106 104
Straw Height (cm) 107.1 102.1 103.1 105.2 104.5 105.2
Resistance to lodging 4 (7) 7 5 (4) (7)
Straw breakdown 4 5 5 4 4 7
Earliness of ripening 5 6 8 8 4 5
Winter Hardiness** 3 - 5 - W -
RESISTANCE TO:
Mildew 3 8 5 5 4 5
Crown Rust 4 4 4 4 8 6
GRAIN QUALITY
Kernel content (%) 75.6 73.6 75.9 75.7 75.2 76.5
1,000 grain wt. (g) 36.2 43.7 37.5 37.1 37.5 39.8
Hectolitre wt. (kg/hl) 57.3 55.6 57.2 57.5 55.8 58.4
Year first listed 1986 2019 2010 2018 2019 2020
Based on trial results from 2018, 2019 and 2020. Yields are expressed as a percentage of the mean of
Barra and Husky (100 = 7.96 t/ha @ 15% moisture content). () Limited Data.
Winter Wheat
There are very little changes to the wheat varieties this year. The two big varieties are Costello and Graham. As a rule, you should go for a high yielding
variety which has good resistance to disease and lodging with good hectolitre weight.
Graham Costello
It is the highest yielding wheat and has the best overall disease package Solid variety from KWS UK which ticks so many boxes on robustness
available. It really impressed growers this year as it did not get yellow and reliability even though it’s not the highest yielding wheat variety
rust in the spring, maintained its green canopy when Septoria came available. 2nd most popular variety growing this year taking 22% market
into crops in July and has turned out some exceptional yields on farms. share. Boasts exceptional specific weight / grain quality - 77.5KPH on
During the poor weather rain and storms, it would have lost some heads. Irish Rec List 2020. Good overall disease resistance including mildew,
An added benefit of GRAHAM is it is a slow developer so is suitable for yellow rust and fusarium. Needs attention for septoria. Best resistance
reasonably early drilling. to sprouting on the Rec List - could make it a banker variety in a wet
harvest.
16 www.dairygoldagri.ieISSUE 04 - SEPT 2020
JB Deago KWS Conros
A moderately early maturing variety with moderate resistance to A moderately late maturing variety with very good resistance to lodging
lodging and good resistance to straw breakdown. Moderately resistant and straw breakdown. Very good resistance to mildew and yellow
to mildew and fusarium. Susceptible to septoria tritici and yellow rust. rust and moderately susceptible to septoria tritici. Good resistance to
Good resistance to sprouting. Good grain quality with a good hectolitre sprouting and moderate resistance to fusarium. Low thousand grain
weight. weight with a good hectolitre weight.#
Torp SY Insitor
A high yielding, moderately late maturing variety. Good resistance to A very high yielding moderately early maturing variety with good
lodging and moderate resistance to straw breakdown. Good resistance resistance to lodging and moderately resistant to straw breakdown.
to septoria tritici. Moderately susceptible to yellow rust and mildew. Good resistance to mildew. Moderately susceptible to Septoria tritici.
Susceptible to fusarium and moderately resistant to sprouting. Good resistance to yellow rust. Moderately resistant to fusarium ear
Moderate grain quality with a low hectolitre weight. blight. Susceptible to sprouting. Good hectolitre weight.
| Winter Wheat 2021
RECOMMENDED PROVISIONALLY RECOMMENDED
AGRONOMIC & QUALITY
CHARACTERISTICS * COSTELLO GRAHAM JB DIEGO KWS CONROS TORP SY INSITOR
Relative Yield * 97 103 97 98 100 102
Straw Height (cm) 67.6 74.7 75.1 74.6 75.6 75.5
Resistance to lodging 8 7 6 8 7 (7)
Straw breakdown 7 5 7 8 6 (6)
Earliness of ripening 6 7 6 5 5 (6)
RESISTANCE TO:
Mildew 8 8 6 8 5 (7)
Septoria 5 6 4 5 7 (5)
Yellow Rust 8 7 4 8 4 (7)
Fusarium ear blight 7 5 6 4 4 (6)
Sprouting 8 6 7 7 6 (4)
QUALITY
Grain Protein % (15%MC) 10.7 10.5 10.6 10.5 10.2 10.1
Hagberg Falling No.8 388 310 368 323 294 311
1,000 grain wt. (g) 47.3 48.6 47.9 44.0 46.6 45.7
Hectolitre wt. (kg/hl) 77.5 74.5 75.1 75.8 72.4 74.8
Market + F F F F F F
Year first listed 2017 2020 2010 2019 2018 2021
Based on trial results from 2018 2019 and 2020. Yields are expressed as a percentage of the mean of
JB Diegoand Graham (100 = 11.01 t/ha @ 15% moisture content). () Limited Data.
Order your winter seed in time to avoid disappointment
17Top tips to making the farm
A SAFER PLACE FOR ALL
| By Catherine Hurley B.Ag.Sc Dairygold Agri Sales Support Advisor
As I’m writing this the harvest is drawing to a close, an end to a difficult
few weeks for many farmers. In the final edition of Trust in Tillage this 4 Ensure only competent persons to operate tractors
and that all tractors are maintained in a safe working
year and Farm Safety Series 2020 we discuss how farmers can make condition. It should be noted that many farmers have been fatally
the family farm a safer place for everyone.
crushed by rolling tractors, as a result of the handbrake not been
About 90% of all fatal and serious farm accidents can be prevented applied properly, or the handbrake not being maintained in good
by managing health and safety on the farm, according to figures working condition.
published by the HSA. It’s essential farmers and everyone involved
take a more proactive role in promoting farm safety and prioritise
5
health and safety issues on farm. Guarantee that all livestock are handled in a safe manner
and that safe handling facilities are used. Extra care
Dedicate yourself to farm safety by ensuring that the following safety
must be taken with cows at calving time, proven to be the most
measures are observed:
dangerous animals on farm, bulls and when testing and loading
or unloading livestock.
1 Carry out a risk assessment of your farm and complete
the Agricultural Code of Practice Risk Assessment
Document or a Safety Statement and ensure that anyone who
works on your farm reads and understands it. Ensure that every
6 Check that all slurry tanks and lagoons are covered or
fenced off safely. Hydrogen Sulphide, a highly toxic gas
hazard and their associated risks are identified and that the is released when agitating. Because of this, it is essential that
appropriate safety control measures are put in place. you evacuate and ventilate the shed before agitating and that
you wait at least 30 minutes after agitating before re-entering
the shed.
2 Age and health related risk factors of elderly farmers
need to be recognised and expectations, working
procedures and physical activities are modified accordingly.
Figures show over 50% of farm fatalities involve persons over
7 Create a safe play area for children and never allow
young children unaccompanied on the farm.
65 and most of these have been caused by reversing machinery
and attacks by animals. This would suggest that lack of mobility
and flexibility plays a major part in elderly farmers being unable
to avoid these accidents. Extra precautions need must be taken
8 Lastly, remember to keep up with your local farming
neighbours and friends. Farming can be quite isolated
because of this, especially for machine operators to ensure the at the best of times never mind this year when extra activities
safety of elderly farmers when handling cattle. having been so limited.
3 Check that all machine guards especially the PTO I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for prioritising farm safety
on your farm and taking the time to make it a safer environment for
shaft are maintained in good condition and replaced if
everyone involved.
damaged or missing. Never operate an unguarded machine.
18 www.dairygoldagri.ieISSUE 04 - SEPT 2020
Planning for a
NEW SEASON
| By Ciaran Collins Teagasc tillage specialist
As we reflect on the 2020 cropping season many will remember it as
a season of ‘what might have been’. Massive yield potential (in the
Rotation break crops
Teagasc eProfit monitor results consistently show that winter wheat
South), but it all didn’t make it to the grain store. On a positive note
and winter barley return the highest net margins to farmers. But we
2020 showed that tillage farmers are capable of producing some of
need to look behind these figures to reveal how these margins are
the highest yields in the world. Yields in winter wheat of 12.5t/ha,
achieved. Analysis of the eProfit monitor data shows that higher yields
winter barley over 11t/ha and 10t/ha of spring barley are all achievable.
are achieved where break crops are in the rotation and these higher
Unfortunately the weather that allows us produce these high yields
yields are leading to higher margins. The eProfit monitor data also shows
ultimately undid in all in a wet harvest.
that rotational break crops like spring beans and winter oilseed rape do
not return high net margins in their own right but over the duration of
Planning a rotation the system delivers a higher net return than where limited
Whilst we can’t stop the rain we can plan to reduce its impact on income. rotation is practiced or continuous cropping.
Having a range of crops and a spread of varieties within those crops
reduces risk. Having a range of crops also reduces risk by spreading
workload especially at harvest time.
Non cereal break crops are an essential component of any successful
cropping plan. Beans and oilseed rape are excellent break crops and
Teagasc experiments have shown yield increases of between 0.5 and
1.5t/ha in yields depending on the incidence of take all during the
growing season.
| Beans provide a useful break crop for wheat or seed crops.
A cereal production systems experiment carried out by Teagasc They produce their own nitrogen and also leave
showed that the profit margin from wheat produced within a rotation residual nitrogen for the following crop.
was between 20% and 31% greater than from monoculture wheat.
Monoculture wheat and to a lesser extent spring barley incurs higher | Oilseed rape acts as a break crop from the take-all fungus which
costs particularly fertiliser and weed control. adversely affects wheat. Yield of wheat sown after sowing rape can
increase by 0.5-1.5 t/ha depending on the incidence of take
all during the growing season.
In addition to higher yields and higher net margins in succeeding crops
rotation break crops allow for the use of alternative modes of action for
weed control thus slowing the development of resistance.
Spread of varieties
Along with a spread of crops to reduce risk it is important to have a
spread of varieties within those crops. As we enter an era of reduced
pesticide and fertiliser inputs variety choice is the critical component
of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy. A variety with good
disease resistance is essential but it is important to consider other
characteristics like straw break down and sprouting in wheat. In a
difficult harvest resilient varieties will lose less yield and may end up
with higher yields than a variety that would normally yield higher. A mix
of varieties spreads risk.
We can’t control the weather but we can reduce
the impact it has on income by having a cropping
plan in place that includes a solid rotation.
19Crop
ROTATION
| By Niall Laffan B.Agr.Sc I.A.S.I.S. Dairygold Agribusiness.
What you need to know
about Crop Rotation What is continuous monoculture?
Crop rotation is a simple procedure that involves not planting the Monoculture or often called monocropping is the practice
same crop in the same soil for two to six years. However, there are a of producing or growing one crop species in the same soil in
limited number of crop rotations and real crop options available to Irish repetition every year. This practice can lead to an increase in
Growers. Crop rotation prevents a build-up of diseases in the soil which pest, weeds prevalence in a certain area. Leading to increased
can infect and re-infect families of plants. Plants also absorb different pesticides which in turn increases resistance to pesticides
quantities of soil nutrients, and repeated plantings of the same family as some pests will survive repeated applications. Intensive
can deplete the soil. There is some time involved initially developing farming of this nature can damage soils by continually depleting
your plan but it’s quick and easy once in place. Consider growing a green with its specific nutrient requirement, Monocultures can
manure crop somewhere in the cycle to replenish nitrogen stores and push ecosystems out of balance as there is a reduction in soil
build up the organic matter in the soil. organisms when soil physical characteristics are poor, which is
evident in monocultures. Monocropping requires a higher level
of fertiliser in order to achieve maximum productivity from the
crops, as nutrients need to be replenished artificially.
Cereal yields are higher when they are grown in rotation.
Research shows that wheat yields are 11% higher when
the crop is grown in rotation compared to wheat grown
in a continuous cropping system.
The implementation of a good rotation
should provide growers with:
• Increased profitability
• Diversify risks
• Fulfil greening regulations
• Effective use of herbicides on difficult weed.
• Soil structure benefits
Rotations and Monoculture
Break Crop Cereal
Mono Mono
(BC) Rotation (CR)
1 W. Wheat W. Wheat W. Wheat S. Barley
2 S. Barley/SB W. Barley
3 S. OSR W.Oats
4 W. Wheat WW
5 WB/SB WB
20 www.dairygoldagri.ieISSUE 04 - SEPT 2020
How do I choose a rotation that suits? Advantages of crop rotation
There are different factors to consider when developing a plan for crop
rotation, there are IPM benefits and concerns that must be looked at; • Prevents soil depletion
choosing crops that reduce the risk of soil borne diseases such as take all,
• Maintains soil fertility
volunteer weeds, the possibility of disease carry over and fertility issues.
Also, it’s important that when selecting a crop to use in your system, that • Reduces soil erosion
there is a market for the crop at harvest. • Controls insect/mite pests.
The main two break crops that suit Irish tillage rotations are Beans and • Reduces reliance on synthetic chemicals
OSR. • Reduces the pests’ build-up
• Prevents diseases
Beans • Helps control weeds i.e. Blackgrass
Beans whether spring or winter provide a useful break crop for wheat or
other cereal crops. They produce their own nitrogen and leave residual
nitrogen for the following crop. They can be sown very early in spring or
winter thus getting acres planted and their root structure leaves soil in
very good condition.
Disadvantages of Crop Rotation
Oilseed Rape • There are ‘No’ disadvantages of crop rotation.
Oilseed rape acts as a break crop from the Take-All fungus which
adversely affects wheat. Yield of wheat sown after sowing rape can • Crop rotation fails when we grow the crops
increase by 0.5-1.5t/ha depending on the incidence of take all during without planning and proper management
the growing season. Also, the use of oilseed rape and spring barley in of those crops. Incorrect implantation
a rotation with winter wheat can reduce the incidence of blackgrass or an unwise plan is the major drawback in
significantly. crop rotation.
Maize & Beet
Other Commonly used break crops include maize and beet. When grow
in conjunction with a local livestock farmer or for energy production.
These crops have the ability to provide a significant break for the soil as
Top Tips when
they are of a different crop family, using a different range of nutrients Planning Crop rotation
from the soil, which will allow other soil nutrients replenish and which
will then provide the following cereal crop with an added yield bonus. • Know the family where your crops belong to
make sure that you plant on the next cropping
a crop that belongs to a different family than
Oats the previous one.
Another break crop is oats. Oats have the ability to provide a break for
the soil and help alleviate Take-All problems. If growers had an area that • Grow legumes before cereals.
has a low pH or low in P and K, then oats will likely perform better than
• Practice green manuring.
other cereals as it is a scavenger crop. The disadvantage of using oats in
a rotation is why they are not considered a true break crop. They do not • Always keep farm records
provide the added yield benefit for the following crop. • Plan accordingly to fulfill greening regulations.
• Know the Yield, Costs, Profits for each crop on
If considering implementing a crop that will add value to your rotation your soils.
this winter, please contact your local Area Sales Manager who will • Due regard to the market for Break crops
advise on rotation and crop markets.
• Make decisions based on profit and long-term
benefits.
KEY POINT
The use of tillage break crops, especially
legumes, will allow farmers to save up to
€40/ha in Nitrogen costs when growing
cereals..
21You can also read
