National Tillage Conference 2026

The National Tillage Conference 2026 takes place on Wednesday, 28 January at 9am in the Lyrath Convention Centre, Kilkenny, R95 F685. While strong yields were delivered in 2025, this did not result in strong returns, adding further pressure on the sector. Against this backdrop, the conference will include a specific session and afternoon workshop on the issue of Competitiveness & Sustainability, providing opportunity for engagement on the key drivers of internal and external competitiveness that will influence the sector through 2026.

Click here to register for the conference

Please note that pre-registration is required. Registration closes on Monday, 26^th January at 12 midnight.

We continue with our Research Snapshot session through the morning, with results highlighting the (i) role of BYDV tolerant varieties in reducing virus transmission (ii) added value potential of rye for food processing, (iii) identification of latent diseases that could challenge novel crops (iv) an important initiative on clubroot surveillance and action (v) decision support for chocolate spot control in beans as well as an update on the recently approved regulation to support the use of new breeding techniques such as editing in variety development.

The final session of the morning and corresponding afternoon workshop on grassweeds will include in-depth efficacy analyses of residual herbicides, new insight on the dynamics of blackgrass populations relative to EU populations plus invaluable insights from guest speakers from the UK, highlighting lessons learnt regarding key on-farm actions.

As with previous years, attendees will have the opportunity to register for three of four afternoon workshops with full details below.

IASIS points will be available.

Conference Agenda

9am – 9:30am
Registration check 

9:30am – 9:40am
Welcome and conference opening
Professor Frank O’Mara, Teagasc Director

9:40am – 10:20am
Session One: Sector competitiveness in a global market

Session Chair: John Spink, Head of Environment, Crops and Land Use Programme, Teagasc

The dynamics of trade and impact on competitiveness
Dr. Roel Jongeneel, Wageningen Economic Research, Wageningen University and Research

Tools to gauge competitiveness within the Irish tillage sector?
Dr. Fiona Thorne, Agricultural Economics and Farm Surveys Department, Teagasc

Q&A – Panel Discussion

10:20pm – 10:45am
Session Two: Research Snapshots highlighting current & upcoming research outcomes

Session Chair: Dr. Ewen Mullins, Head of Crop Science Department, Teagasc

Validating the use of tolerant winter barley varieties to manage BYDV in Ireland
Jack Perry, Teagasc Walsh Scholar

Higher value potential of Irish grown rye?
Sinead Dermody, Teagasc Walsh Scholar

Profiling fungicide sensitivity of chocolate spot
Dr. Steven Kildea, Teagasc, Oak Park

10:45am – 11:15am
Tea/Coffee

11:15am – 11:45am
Session Two continued: Research Snapshots highlighting current & upcoming research outcomes

Defending Irish Crops Against the Threat of Plant Viruses
Marta Niedzicka, Marie Curie Fellow

Surveillance and Action for Fighting Clubroot
Jack Jameson, Teagasc, Oak Park

How good is the news from Europe on NGT breeding?
Dr. Ewen Mullins, Head of Crop Science Department, Teagasc

Q&A – Panel Discussion

11:45am – 12:40pm
Session Three:  Rising threat from blackgrass: Research Insights plus lessons to be learnt

Session Chair: Ciaran Collins, Teagasc Crops Specialist

New cases and origin of resistant weeds
Dr Vijaya Bhaskar and Charlotte Morgan, Teagasc Oak Park

What are the important things we can learn from the UK’s experience with herbicide resistant grass weeds?
John Cussans, Weed Biology and Management Specialist, ADAS

Blackgrass and grassweed control – A grower’s view
Adrian Joynt, retired Apley Farms Manager, Bridgnorth Shropshire

Q&A – Panel Discussion

12:40pm – 2pm
Lunch

2pm – 4:15pm
Session Four: Interactive Workshops

Workshops are running in parallel. Attendees have an option to select 3 of 4 through the afternoon.

Workshops times are:

• 2pm – 2:45pm
• 2:45pm – 3:30pm
• 3:30pm – 4:15pm

Workshop topics:

• Workshop One – Disease control decisions for 2026
• Workshop Two – Weed Clinic
• Workshop Three – Competitiveness v. Sustainability, mapping a way forward
• Workshop Four – NGTs, where are we going and what can we now expect?

Workshop One – Disease control decisions for 2026 (McCurdy 3)

This workshop will detail the findings reported on chocolate spot in the morning session, as well as yellow rust and septoria control in winter wheat. Panellists will also discuss key timings and fungicide programmes to protect yield potential in barley crops this year.

Chair: John Pettit (Teagasc)

Panel: Steven Kildea (Teagasc), Conor Callaghan (Teagasc), Michael McCarthy (Teagasc), Louise McNamara (Teagasc), David Kehoe (Farmer)

Workshop Two – Weed Clinic (McCurdy 2)

This workshop will expand on the research and insights presented in the morning session. The workshop will provide an opportunity to query and discuss in detail the lessons learned in the UK; key to updating integrated weed management strategies for the tillage sector. It will also include in-depth efficacy analyses of residual herbicides on grass weeds with different sensitivity status, covering both currently available chemistries in Ireland and those that may become available in the future.

Chair: Shay Phelan (Teagasc)

Panel: Vijaya Bhaskar (Teagasc), Adrian Joynt (UK), John Cussans (ADAS), Charlotte Morgan (Walsh Scholar)

Workshop Three – Competitiveness v. Sustainability, mapping a way forward (McCurdy 3)

The workshop will explore in more detail the content presented in the opening session of the conference, providing opportunity for engagement and discussion of the key drivers of internal and external competitiveness that will influence the sector through 2026.

Chair: Kevin Hanrahan (Teagasc)

Panel: Roel Jongeneel (WUR), Fiona Thorne (Teagasc), John Mahon (Teagasc)

Workshop Four – NGTs, where are we going and what can we now expect? (Maginness Rooms)

The workshop will delve in more detail into the developments at EU level about the use and practical implications of the new regulation for new breeding techniques. Can editing make a difference? What will it mean for the sector and what are the targets breeders should focus on that NGTs can help with?

Chair: Michael Hennessy (Teagasc)

Panel:  Cara MacAodhain (DAFM), John Dunne (GoldCrop), Tim O’Donovan (Seedtech) Denis Griffin and Ewen Mullins (Teagasc)

4:15pm
Conference close