12 June 2025
Think before you till
A new study reveals the conditions under which Irish tillage growers adopt innovations.
Research highlights that peer-to-peer exchange is a highly valuable knowledge source for Irish growers, especially plough-based growers. Credit: Oleg Marchak/istockphoto.com
Most Irish tillage farmers won’t adopt a new practice unless they see proof that it works – on local soil, under Irish conditions, and backed by growers they trust. That’s one of the key takeaways from a recent study involving 154 Irish tillage farmers, covering over 29,000 hectares – around 9% of Ireland’s total cropping area.
The research set out to answer four practical questions:
- What kind of evidence do growers need before changing their crop establishment system or adopting a new innovation?
- Where do they prefer to get this information?
- How do they want to access it?
- Do these preferences vary depending on the system they currently use?
Jack Jameson, Postdoctoral Fellow at Teagasc’s Crop Science Department, says: “The findings offer a roadmap for researchers, advisors and policymakers aiming to boost innovation uptake and promote more sustainable farming in Ireland’s tillage sector.”
Information access methods, used for major decisions (all growers), as determined by ranking in growers’ top three choices.
What proof do farmers want?
It was found that many growers demand robust, locally validated evidence before considering the adoption of an innovation.
The study found that a significant number of farmers insist on seeing clear, region-specific results from local trials, along with evidence that the innovation they are considering is being widely adopted locally by their peers. For these growers, the assurance that a new innovation works reliably under Ireland’s unique climatic and soil conditions is essential before they commit to change. These were the views held by the majority of plough-based (90%) but less-so with non-plough growers (39%).
In contrast, many more non-plough growers (61%) compared to plough-based growers (10%) displayed a higher tolerance for risk and are generally more willing to experiment with novel practices, even when local data is less abundant. This behaviour, typical of early adopters, may not be compatible with the scale and economic circumstances of many farm businesses.
Jack explains: “Adopting unproven innovations that require significant capital expenditure risks placing these businesses under excessive financial pressure, if the innovation is not optimised for Irish conditions.”
Trusted voices matter
The research highlights that trusted, local information sources are highly valued among Irish growers, especially plough-based growers. Many growers expressed a strong preference for advice provided by well-established local advisory services, particularly those offered by Teagasc. In addition to formal advisory services, growers also place considerable trust in their peers, placing stock in learning from other growers that have first-hand experience with new innovations.
“This peer-to-peer exchange is especially valuable,” highlights Jack. “It offers practical insights that are directly relevant to the challenges growers face locally.”
However, the study also revealed a notable trend: many growers, particularly those using non-inversion systems (40%), often turn to non-Irish sources for information. While non-Irish sources can certainly offer some valuable insights, this reliance on data generated under conditions that differ markedly from Ireland’s signals the presence of significant Irish knowledge gaps.
The danger for growers is that information relating to an innovation gained from non-Irish sources may not fully reflect the specific challenges posed in Irish growing conditions and the adoption of innovations in this case might carry excessive hidden risks. This reinforces the urgent need for more Irish research on crop establishment systems particularly.
Face-to-face still leads
When it comes to accessing information, Irish growers overwhelmingly favour traditional, face-to-face methods (Figure 1). In-person meetings, field days, and discussion groups were consistently rated as the most trusted channels for knowledge exchange. These interactive formats allow farmers to observe demonstrations first-hand, ask detailed questions, and engage directly with researchers, advisors, and fellow growers who share their learnings and experiences. Print media also figures prominently, reflecting the strong technical content of some publications.
“It was surprising that there was not a higher preference for digital information access methods, which rated poorly, especially given that the survey was conducted well into the COVID-19 pandemic when digital channels were heavily used and relied upon for agricultural dissemination activities,” says Jack.
These results suggest that while digital methods were widely used at this time, growers still prefer traditional, in-person information access methods.
Turning insight into impact
Bringing together three key insights provides a clear roadmap for improving the uptake of research and advisory efforts in Ireland’s tillage sector:
- The type of evidence farmers need before adopting new practices.
- Where they prefer to get this information.
- How they want to access it.
This study shows that most tillage farmers need clear, locally relevant proof before they make changes. Just as importantly, the information must come through trusted and accessible channels. By aligning research and extension efforts with these preferences, we can boost the impact of new knowledge and support the adoption of innovations that are both economically sound and environmentally sustainable.
Funding
This project is internally funded by Teagasc (0822).
Contributors
Jack Jameson, Postdoctoral Fellow, Crop Science Department, Teagasc Oak Park
Dermot Forristal, Principal Research Officer, Crop Science Department, Teagasc Oak Park. dermot.forristal@teagasc.ie
Kevin McDonnell, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin.
Vijaya Bhaskar, Research Officer, Crop Science Department, Teagasc Oak Park.