Ciaran Collins, Crops Specialist previews the fast-approaching Teagasc Crops Forum, taking place on September 10 at 1.50pm in the Killashee Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare.
This year’s theme, ‘Protecting yield and adding value’, will focus on optimising variety choice, tackling emerging agronomic challenges and exploring how rye in crop rotations can add value to the farm output.
Margins under pressure
Tillage farmers are facing another season of tight margins, with input costs remaining high while grain prices are under pressure. Against this backdrop, the focus of this year’s forum is on practical ways to protect farm incomes.
Two key areas for discussion are:
- Variety choice – selecting the right varieties can reduce the risk of BYDV in barley and reduce disease risk in all cereals.
- Crop rotation with rye – introducing winter rye into the rotation can reduce input costs and workload pressure while delivering sustainability benefits.
Rye: Potential to increase the area grown in Ireland
One of the headline topics at this year’s forum is the potential to expand the area of winter rye in Ireland. Recent research carried out by Teagasc at Oak Park has confirmed both the yield potential and the sustainability credentials of the crop.
Winter rye is naturally tolerant to Take-All, which makes it suitable for September planting. This early planting window helps to spread the workload on tillage farms, easing pressure during the busy autumn season.
Another key attribute is its high Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE). Trials show that rye can deliver yields comparable to winter wheat while requiring lower nitrogen inputs. This makes it both an economically attractive and environmentally sustainable option.
The key issue is market demand for rye. Since not all merchants are equipped to handle it, growers must secure a reliable market before deciding to plant rye. The development and availability of rye markets will be a central topic of discussion at the forum.
Importance of variety selection
The forum will also put a strong focus on variety choice, which remains the cornerstone of yield protection. Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) trials now show that two-thirds of winter barley varieties carry the BYDV tolerance gene, offering farmers valuable risk management in high pressure years.
On the wheat front, Teagasc researcher, Stephen Kildea will present on yellow rust, which has emerged as a more persistent threat this season. Cases have been identified in varieties not typically associated with susceptibility, raising concerns amongst growers on how to tackle the problem next season. The effectiveness of the Yr15 resistance gene which many varieties rely on for their resistance is under the spotlight.
Programme overview
Opening: John Spink, Teagasc
Session 1 – Mapping the Best Varieties for Your Farm
Moderator: Michael Hennessy, Teagasc
- Varieties for 2026– Cara MacAodháin, Crop Policy, Evaluation & Certification Division, DAFM
- Yellow Rust & Wheat Disease Control – Stephen Kildea, Researcher Teagasc
- Grassweeds – Changes and Challenges – Vijaya Bhaskar, Researcher Teagasc
- Changing Strategies for Weed Control in Winter Cereals – Shay Phelan, Tillage Specialist, Teagasc
- Q&A with all speakers (15 mins)
Session 2 – Is Rye an Option for Your Farm?
Start: 3:00pm
Moderator: Tim O’Donovan
- Why Rye Deserves a Place in the Rotation – Richie Hackett, Researcher Teagasc
- Is Rye a Competitive Feed?– Michael McKeon, Pig Specialist Moorepark, Teagasc
- Farm to farm trading with rye Shane Maher, UCD/Adesco
- Building a Rotation with Rye – Ciaran Collins, Tillage Specialist,
Followed by Tillage Forum
Register to attend the Teagasc Crops Forum here.
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