The annual Teagasc Crops Forum will take place on Wednesday, 10 September in the Killashee Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare. The Teagasc Crops Forum is the key annual event for tillage farmers, agronomists and industry stakeholders to explore the latest research, market opportunities and practical strategies for profitable crop production.
Favourable weather conditions mean the 2025 harvest is drawing to a close earlier than most years and thoughts are immediately switching to the cropping year ahead. This forward-looking approach will start with farmers reviewing the physical and financial performance of their crops in the year just finished and planning their crop mix for the year ahead. Given this, the theme of this year’s Teagasc Crops Forum is ‘protecting yield and adding value’, with the event focusing on optimising variety choice, tackling emerging agronomic challenges and exploring how rye in crop rotations can add value to farm output.
The first session will address ‘Mapping the Best Varieties for Your Farm’ with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine presenting the recommended lists for 2026. Teagasc researchers and specialists will present on yellow rust and wheat disease control, Grassweeds – changes and challenges, and changing strategies for weed control in winter cereals.
The second session at the Crops Forum will consider, ‘is rye an option for your farm?’. Teagasc researchers and specialist along with a UCD speaker will look at ‘why rye deserves a place in the rotation’, ‘is rye a competitive feed?’, ‘farm-to-farm trading with rye’ and ‘building a rotation with rye’.
The panel discussion at the Crops Forum will include researchers, specialists, farmers and trade representatives.
Speaking in advance of the event, Head of Crops Knowledge Transfer Department in Teagasc, Michael Hennessy encouraged farmers and those involved in the sector to attend on 10 September. “This is an opportunity to keep up to date with developments in the sector and will assist growers in planning their crops for the year ahead,” he said.