Participant in the Teagasc Signpost Programme, Darren Allen brings us up to date with the latest happenings from his farm, including a review of cover crop performance, an update on establishment systems and why he’s planting more legumes in 2026.
This autumn, I continued trials on winter wheat establishment to improve net margin and farm sustainability. I used three methods across different fields: zero-tillage, minimum-tillage and conventional ploughing followed by a one‑pass. The ploughed wheat was sown on my target date, 15 October; the reduced‑tillage plots were drilled earlier, on 26 September. All three got off to a good start with favourable conditions and established a really good plant stand. We applied a pre‑emergence herbicide, weed control has been excellent; the crops look very clean which I am pleased about.
Cover crops
There are large cover crops in the fields presently thanks to favourable autumn and winter growth. The cold weather at the start of January has knocked them back nicely, which will help prepare the ground for spring cropping.
Now I’m contemplating how best to terminate the cover crops, and whether I will use glyphosate to kill them off early or late. I have found if I burn off too early the ground can slump, particularly with this extremely wet weather, but when it is left too late you have the green bridge effect greatly increasing the risk of carryover disease and aphids causing BYDV.
I’ve really seen the benefit of cover crops on my farm, the biggest of which is keeping soil in good health: better structure and a notable increase in earthworm numbers.
I now strive to plant as much cover crop as I can, supported by environmental schemes I’ve signed up to including ACRES and the Farming for Water EIP programme. I aim for diverse mixtures and plant brassica‑friendly mixes because oilseed rape is part of our rotation and don’t want the risk of clubroot developing in our soils. Last year’s mixes included vetch, phacelia, sunflowers, linseed, buckwheat, crimson clover, oats, peas and beans. Most cover crops were established using a cross‑cutter and broadcast seed, with some fields direct‑drilled.
Quantifying benefits such as nitrogen carryover is harder. I haven’t seen a clear increase in Nitrogen available to the following crop, but the structural gains and biological activity are apparent.
This winter, I’ve had no water ponding so far, which is welcome given past yield losses from poor drainage. I’m not certain whether the improvement is due to my cover crops, the move to reduced cultivation, or field drainage, most likely a combination of all as flood resilience has clearly improved.
Bird surveys
Bird watchers involved in surveying bird species for the Arable Coast Environment (ACE) EIP have been out and about on the farm, and have recorded good numbers of snipe and yellowhammer, which is great to hear and makes a positive environmental story for us and the local tillage sector.
Crop planning
Looking ahead, I will have more spring crops in 2026 than usual. With reduced demand for spring malting barley, I plan to expand the pea/bean combi‑crop and make full use of the Protein Aid Scheme. This will allow me to establish a first winter wheat next year and helps shift the establishment method toward lower cultivations which will help curb costs going forward. I will also keep working to reduce chemical nitrogen use by applying imported slurry early in the season, followed by foliar nitrogen later.
Darren Allen is a participant in the Teagasc Signpost Programme working closely with Signpost Programme Advisor, John Mahon and Teagasc Tillage Advisor, Ciara O’Donovan.
The above article first appeared in the Farming Examiner as part of a Signpost Programme update.