Tillage Newsletter – November/December 2025

By Teagasc Crops

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In this edition:

• Cereal weed control
  • Annual meadow grass
    Autumn herbicide application is the most reliable way to control annual meadow grass (AMG) in winter wheat and barley. Applying residual herbicides in autumn, up to the early tillering stage of the AMG offers the best chance of success. However, control becomes less effective as the AMG starts to tiller.
  • BYDV
    Findings from recent Teagasc experiments on early planting of winter barley indicate that:
    ■ early sowing increases barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) risk;
    ■ later sowing gives a similar or better yield than early sowing where BYDV is a risk; and,
    ■ a tolerant variety reduces the risk of yield loss to BYDV when sown early where BYDV is present.
  • Winter oilseed rape
    The area of winter oilseed rape has increased to approximately 16,000-17,000ha this season, due to a combination of good forward prices and planting opportunities last August. Crops are generally more forward than normal due to above average temperatures in September/October, so monitoring for disease is important.
• Fertiliser planning
  • New administrative requirement
    Since September 14, 2025, under Statutory Instrument 42 of 2025, a new rule applies to soil sample reports. Every soil analysis result must state the geo-reference or the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) number of the land represented by the sample.
  • Soil sampling:
    ■ no P soil test report, no P allocation – in the absence of a soil test report, P index 4 is assumed;
    ■ take soil samples every 2-4ha (maximum 5ha) to a depth of 10cm, and take a minimum of 20 soil cores per sampling area; and,
    ■ soil samples are required every four years.
• Teagasc tillage podcast
  For all the latest tillage news the Teagasc tillage podcast is available on the Teagasc website, Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Find out more here
• Health & Safety – Stay safe when working at height
  Over the last 10 years, there have been 37 fatalities as a result of falling from height. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) lists common hazards as falls from ladders, unprotected roof edges, falling from or with stacked bales, and falling through fragile roof materials. Take time to assess the task properly, and use competent contractors, safe equipment and safe systems of work.