Tillage Newsletter – June 2025

Download Publication (PDF)

In this month’s edition:

• Crops and Technology Open Day
  This year’s Teagasc Crops and Technology Open Day will be held, in conjunction with the Irish Farmers Journal, at Oak Park, Co. Carlow on Wednesday, June 25. This year’s event will cover the latest research on all the main tillage and horticultural crops.
• Spring barley – Disease control
  Many of the early March-drilled crops have already received their final fungicide; however, most of the later-sown crops still
  have to receive it. Late season control in spring barley is designed to target diseases such as rhynchosporium, net blotch and ramularia.
• Winter wheat – Disease control
  Septoria levels have been very low up to this point as a result of the dry weather in April and May, while yellow rust has been an issue in some crops. The final ‘head’ spray helps to top up control of disease on the flag leaf, and gives some protection against fusarium and other ear diseases, especially if the weather is broken during flowering.
• Grass weed control
  June is critical for grass weed control. They are easier to spot once they have headed out. The Minister for Agriculture included blackgrass on the list of noxious weeds, but this means little unless growers act. Preventing seed return of weeds like blackgrass, Italian ryegrass or wild oats is your first defence for next year’s crop.
• Beans
  Foliar diseases such as chocolate spot, downy mildew and rusts must be controlled to keep the foliage for as long as possible. All diseases develop quickly in warm humid conditions. For chocolate spot control, fungicides need to be applied before the disease develops.
• Health & Safety – Wear and tear scheme
  The expanded Acceleration of Wear and Tear Allowances for Farm Safety Equipment Scheme was launched recently. Farmers can avail of capital allowances of 50% per annum over a two-year period for listed investments.