The Tillage Edge

In the second of a two part series on drainage, Michael Hennessy continues his discussion with Pat Tuohy, a researcher in Teagasc dealing with soil hydrology and drainage, to talk about field drainage issues on tillage farms.   Pat discusses how it is important to identify the sub-surface layer to a depth of 2.5m.  This layer will dictate how the overall area should be drained.  Where the layer is...

Very few of the emerged winter cereal crops have received a herbicide this autumn.  Pre-emergence herbicides are generally the corner of weed control in winter cereals but this year alternative options will be needed.      Ciaran Collins and Shay Phelan, both tillage specialists in Teagasc, join the Tillage Edge podcast to discuss the options for weed control in winter cereals over the coming week...

The wet autumn has shown up areas in all farms which are wet and may need some drainage attention in the coming months or years.     This is the first of two episodes where Michael Hennessy talks to Pat Tuohy, a researcher in Teagasc dealing with soil hydrology and drainage, about how to deal with field drainage issues on tillage farms.   Pat advocates regular maintenance of drains to be the start...

Farmers in the UK are struggling with wet conditions and Andrew Mahon, an Irish farm manager in the heart of England, is on the latest Tillage Edge podcast to chat about the farm he manages and the wider experience of farmers across the UK.     Andy says they missed the very heavy rains and he managed to plant almost all the crops on time.  However, about 40 hectares of the planted crops are not i...

Brendan Burke, the farm manager in Teagasc Oak Park, Carlow, joined the Tillage Edge this week to talk about the progress on the research farm over the past few months.     Similar to other farms in the area, Brendan said there is about 80% of the normal plantings completed to date.   Brendan talked about the extra difficulties of planting around trial plots and having to be careful with the appli...

Planting progress of winter cereals has been slow in most places and at a virtual stop in others and on the latest Tillage Edge podcast, Ciaran Collins and Shay Phelan, both tillage specialists in Teagasc, chat through the current progress and what actions farmers can take as the year closes in.   Ciaran said the recent floods in Cork have been difficult to cope with and recently planted cereals w...

Brian Caldbeck, a Laois man living in Kentucky, talks to Michael Hennessy on this week’s Tillage Edge about his experiences in the US over the past 20 years.     Brian is very much involved in agriculture, running a business called Rubisco Seeds.  The company supplies oilseed rape seed for the food grade market, with much of the seed coming from Europe.  Why Europe?  Because the market wants a non...

In the third of a three part series from a recent Signpost farm walk on Don Somers’ farm in Wexford, Michael Hennessy chats to Don Somers and Dermot Forristal, a machinery researcher in Teagasc, about how he utilises the information from the combine yield monitor to inform agronomic decisions each year.    Don outlines how he aligns the yield maps to better target soil sampling and then applies th...

The practice of fattening store lambs on cover crops is becoming more popular and Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep Production in Teagasc, joins the Tillage Edge podcast this week to discuss how to get the most from the cover crops whilst maximising animal performance.   Michael explains that lambs will take a little time to get used to the taste of the new crop and a gradual introduction over a we...

In the second of a three part series from a Signpost farm walk on Don Somers’ farm in Wexford, Michael Hennessy chats to Martin Bourke, a Teagasc Advisor, about getting the best from organic manures and how Don Somers has utilised this resource to build soil fertility on his farm.    Ciaran Hickey, a Teagasc tillage advisor, also presenting at the event, told the Tillage Edge podcast that cover cr...

In the first of a three part series on the Tillage Edge podcast, at a recent Signpost farm walk on Don Somers’ farm in Wexford, Michael Hennessy chats to Dr David Wall, a researcher in Teagasc, about the soils on Don’s farm and the best way to manage these soils for fertility, carbon storage and high yield.    At the same event Pat Power, a tillage advisor in Wexford, discusses straw incorporation...

Matt Dempsey, former editor of the Irish Farmers Journal, and Chair of the DAFM Food Vision Tillage group, chats to Michael Hennessy on the latest Tillage Edge podcast about the interim recommendations from the Food Vision Tillage Group.   Matt says there is an openness by the government to look at capital projects which could support the industry long term such as a storage/processing for protein...

Dr. Catherine Keena, a Countryside Management Specialist in Teagasc, joins Michael Hennessy on the latest Tillage Edge podcast to talk about the management of hedgerows on tillage farms.     Catherine explains that allowing hedges to grow wider and taller is very important to encourage biodiversity and increase carbon capture.   She added that this can be achieved incrementally by trimming a littl...

Shay Phelan and John Mahon from Teagasc are on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast to chat through what to expect from the Teagasc Crops Forum next Friday in Naas.      Shay explained the forum will hear from Andrew Owen-Griffiths, who is head of DG Sante, which is responsible for the EU Commission's policies on health and food safety.  Andrew will talk about the new pesticide regulations and how the...

Planning for 2024 harvest has begun on many farms and farmers should bear in mind the crop diversification rule, or three crop rule, is in force for 2024.     Shay Phelan and Ciaran Collins, Tillage Specialists in Teagasc, are on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast to explain more.    Ciaran says that the three crop rule is similar to other years and growers should ensure they get the percentage of e...

New rules brought in this year under GAEC 6 will exclude tillage farmers who do not have grassland from grazing cover crops, according to Shay Phelan, a tillage specialist in Teagasc.     On this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, Shay outlines the DAFM rules which must be complied with to graze cover crops and what the DAFM inspectors will be looking for on farm.   Oilseed rape planting season is upon...

Brendan Burke, the farm manager in Teagasc Oak Park, joins the Tillage Edge this week to chat about the harvest progress on the farm.     Despite the weather, Brendan says his team have made good progress and pretty much all of the ripe crops are harvested.  However, Brendan says saving the straw was more difficult and much of it is still on the ground.   Brendan explains the process of harvesting...

Ciaran Collins, a Tillage Specialist in Teagasc, joined the Tillage Edge podcast this week to chat about the harvest and stubble cultivation rules which farmers should be aware of.      Ciaran said the harvest is stop/start with good progress being made in winter barley, winter oilseed rape and winter oats.  He said yields are variable across all crops and no yield records will be broken.   Much o...

Tim Bergin, an Irish man farming in Poland, joined the Tillage Edge this week to chat about the year so far and his harvest progress.     Tim said that a cold spell early in the year followed by a prolonged drought has affected cereal growth and he is expecting lower yields from these crops.   Tim also grows potatoes, which he was also very worried about until recent rains in the past couple of we...

This is the final Tillage Edge podcast highlighting the best of the Teagasc Crops Open Day held in Oak Park, Carlow.     On this episode, Louise McNamara and Stephen Byrne, researchers in Oak Park, discuss the extensive research which will underpin BYDV advice in the future.    Deirdre Doyle, a technologist in Teagasc, outlines the recommendations around ramularia control in barley and Sinead Derm...

This is the third of four shows highlighting content from the Teagasc Crops Open Day in Oak Park Carlow and this week’s Tillage Edge focuses on the different establishment systems, cover crops and the environment. First, Jack Jameson, a PhD student in Teagasc, talks about different establishment systems and farmer perceptions about these systems.   We get an update from John Mahon, the Tillage Sig...

This is the second of four shows from the Teagasc Crops Open Day in Oak Park Carlow and this episode of the Tillage Edge podcast is focusing on protein crops.    You’ll hear from Ciaran Collins, a tillage specialist in Teagasc, to set the scene about agronomy and where the protein industry can be developed.     Sheila Alves, a Teagasc researcher in bean agronomy, highlights the huge potential to i...

This is the first of four shows highlighting some of the research from the Crops Research Open Day in Oak Park.     Ewen Mullins, the Head of Crops Research in Oak Park, explains that the aim of the open day is to equip farmers with new knowledge and give them an insight into the new research areas that Teagasc Crops Research are working on.   Dermot Forristal, a researcher in Teagasc, also chats...

Garett Browne, along with his brother Mark, farms just outside Enniscorthy, Co Wexford and on the latest Tillage Edge podcast, Garett discusses the highs and lows of 2023 so far as well as reflecting on his establishment system successes and challenges.     Garett is running a min-till and strip till establishment system across a range of crops and is very happy with both systems.   However Garett...

The Crops Open Day, which is held every two years, brings the Oak Park Crop Research Programme to the public, supported by Researchers, PhD students and Advisors and on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, Dr. Ewen Mullins, Head of Crops Research, and Dermot Forristal, a researcher in crops and mechanisation, join Michael Hennessy to preview the event which takes place on Wednesday, June 21st.   We a...