12 June 2025
6 reasons to attend the Crops and Technology Open Day
All involved in the tillage and horticultural sectors are invited to the highly anticipated Crops and Technology Open Day.
Organised in partnership with the Irish Farmers Journal, the Crops and Technology Open Day will take place in the Teagasc Crops Research Centre, Oak Park on Wednesday, June 25 from 10am.
The open day, which is held every two years, brings the Oak Park Crop Research Programme and other elements from across the broader Teagasc Research programme to the public, supported by researchers, PhD students and advisors. At the event, the latest innovations, research findings on all the main tillage crops and horticultural field crops, and advice will be displayed and discussed.
In the below video, Head of the Crop Research Department at Teagasc, Ewen Mullins and Siobhán Walsh, Tillage Editor of the Irish Farmers Journal, provide an overview of what to expect at the Crops and Technology Open Day:
Below are some of the key highlights to look forward to:
1). Grass weeds
Tillage farmers are reporting an increased presence of blackgrass, Italian ryegrass and bromes in tillage crops this season. Given the recent identification of herbicide resistance in Italian ryegrass, the Crops and Technology Open Day will provide visitors with the essential tools to limit the impact of grass weeds, starting from identification through to the control options available.
PhD student with Teagasc, Charlotte Morgan provides a preview in the below video of what to expect from a grass weed perspective at the Crops and Technology Open Day:
2). Protein crops
Out in the research plots, visitors will be given the opportunity to see the wide array of protein crops being grown and studied by Teagasc, an important area of work given the direction of travel for protein crop imports for either human or animal consumption.
Results from Teagasc’s research on bean and peas – and the combination of the two – will be made available for all to see, as Teagasc researchers delve into the pros and cons being observed under a research trial setting. The expansion of this work to commercial farm settings will also be discussed.
The value-added piece of protein crops will also be detailed with displays demonstrating the functionality of protein from these crops as an important food ingredient.
3). Crop diseases
A changing climate, featuring warmer and wetter weather, reduced chemical inputs and the development of host resistance will undoubtedly bring additional challenges from a crop disease and pest control perspective.
Keep abreast of these challenges by attending the Crops and Technology Open Day, where the substantial programme of field and diagnostic work surveying diseases in oats, beans, barley and wheat to mitigate the impact of pests and pathogens on profitability will be highlighted.
Researchers, specialists and advisors working at the coalface will be present to field your questions, share the latest research findings and advice on managing these diseases effectively on your farm.
Stephen Kildea, a researcher in the Crop Science Department at Teagasc, delves into some of the key attractions featuring at the Crops and Technology Open Day in the area of crop diseases in the below video:
4). Establishment systems for field crops
The Crops and Technology Open Day will also feature a demonstration highlighting the latest technological advancements available to Irish vegetable growers.
Efficient and high-quality crop establishment is crucial for profitable field vegetable production. Recent developments in crop establishment machinery now enable faster planting and sowing. At the event, growers will get a first-hand look at the cutting-edge technologies that can enhance productivity and efficiency.
5). Potatoes – foliage destruction and a first look at new technology
Potato haulm (foliage) destruction will also feature at the Crops and Technology Open Day. The event will include the first public viewing of a novel system where electrical energy is used to replace herbicide use. In this case, a high voltage current is passed through the plants using a purpose-developed machine, incorporating a tractor-mounted generator and a boom carrying the electrodes to contact the crop.
6). A major machinery demonstration
The Crops and Technology Open Day will also include a major machinery demonstration, with a particular focus on sprayers and technology available for more accurate applications.
The machinery working demo will have on display:
- GPS controlled spraying to facilitate precise automated switching of sprayer boom sections.
- Automatic nozzle switching, or pulse-width-modulation nozzle control, to allow application rate to be varied according to crop needs.
- Sensor-controlled boom height to reduce drift and achieve even spray application across booms up to 36m wide.
- Sensor controlled ‘spot’ or ‘patch’ spraying where a sensor on the boom, or on a previously flown drone, is used to identify specific weeds or crop areas that need to be sprayed. The sprayer then automatically targets either individual plants (spot spraying) or areas (patch spraying).
For more insights and to plan your journey to the Crops and Technology Open Day, visit here.