Crops

Wild potato genes: the future of late blight control
Wild potato genes: the future of late blight control Researchers are studying the genes of wild potato species in the hopes of finding a novel approach to mitigating crop losses caused by the persistent late blight disease. The destructive potential of the late blight crop disease pathogen Phytophthora infestans impacted and shaped […]
16 January 2023

Spring sown winter wheat
Spring sown winter wheat The Teagasc harvest report published in November 2022 predicted that approximately 55,000 ha which indicates that there is possibly some winter wheat seed still in bags on farms. While there were some limited opportunities to drill in late November most of this seed is likely to be still […]
12 January 2023

The Fundamentals of Soils Part 2: Soil Nutrients
The Fundamentals of Soils Part 2: Soil Nutrients The second part of The Tillage Edge’s special soil series sees Professor Mike McLaughlin continue his in-depth look at soil and its functionality with nutrients. Prof. McLaughlin discusses potash and how it can interact with soils and plants, and he also talks about nutrient […]
12 January 2023

Teagasc Tillage Conference to focus on future challenges
Teagasc Tillage Conference to focus on future challenges This year’s Teagasc National Tillage Conference is set against the background of 2022 being one of the better seasons in recent memory, with excellent harvest conditions and historically high grain prices making 2022 a profitable season for tillage farmers in spite of elevated costs. […]
11 January 2023

The Fundamentals of Soils Part 1: Soil Make-Up & Chemistry
0 The Fundamentals of Soils Part 1: Soil Make-Up & Chemistry Soils are the most important resource the human race has. Without a productive soil there wouldn’t be any farming or food production. Understanding the core functionality of soil is fundamental to a management strategy for a long term productive soil. Over the […]
5 January 2023

In order to forward sell grain, we must know our costs
In order to forward sell grain, we must know our costs Tillage farmers are heading into the 2023 season with some trepidation. Input costs have increased to unprecedented levels and positive crop margins can only be sustained by a continuation of current high grain prices and high yields. Often an elusive combination. […]
31 December 2022

Conserving Local Farming History in East Cork
Conserving Local Farming History in East Cork Tillage farmer Brenda Scanlan from Co. Cork approached me earlier this year enquiring if there was any aid available to help people repair and protect old farm buildings from inevitable decay. Some roof slates on one particular building on the farm had been lost or […]
30 December 2022

Bring your paperwork up to date
Bring your paperwork up to date The level of field work which can be undertaken at this time of the year is minimal and will remain so for the next couple of months. You may be thinking about the mountain of paperwork which is waiting for you in the office but you […]
29 December 2022

Tillage Newsletter – December 2022
Tillage Newsletter – December 2022 Get the latest news and advice form the Teagasc Crops team. Download Publication (PDF) In this month’s edition: Farm records2022 will be remembered for a number of reasons such as high prices, record yields in some crops and some disasters in others, easy harvesting conditions, and finally […]
22 December 2022

Tillage Signpost Farms Soil Test Results
Tillage Signpost Farms Soil Test Results Mark Plunkett Soil and Plant Nutrition Specialist reports on soil fertility levels on Tillage Signpost Farms. Tillage farms in Ireland have a one of the lowest carbon footprints at 2.5t C/ha as reported in the Teagasc Farm Sustainability Report in 2021. These farms include a livestock […]
22 December 2022