Almost complete: The grain harvest is now virtually complete, with only an occasional crop remaining. Much of the bean crop is harvested with variable results and spring oilseed rape seems to be the most difficult to complete as moistures are slow to drop in seeds and stems.

Planting of winter barley has begun in Tipperary, so the cycle has begun once again. The good weather and soil conditions are a considerable temptation to many growers to begin planting, especially those with big acreage.

Planting: It is still early for wheat when you factor in septoria risk. If you must plant now, let septoria resistance be the primary variety characteristic.

Remember, it is not the planting date that is the issue, but rather the amount of growth likely in the autumn. So what would be early in east Cork could be late in north Meath or Donegal. Our major problem is that we cannot guarantee when growth will cease.

Early-emerged crops have a much higher risk of autumn disease infection – foliar and virus. Consider using Redigo Deter seed dressing for the earliest-planted crops, especially on high BYDV risk sites.

Drill awkward and wet ground initially and then switch over to winter barley. Early sowing of individual fields is less of an overall risk than planting big areas.

Even though seed size is big, lower seed rates will help offset some of the consequences of excessive back-end growth. Plant winter barley at around (or under) 300 seeds/m2. Early wheat should be planted at 160-180 seeds/m2 – around 110-125kg/ha (6-7st/acre), but adjust for seed size.

Winter oilseed rape: Continue to watch establishing crops for slug and flea beetle damage. The small flea beetles puncture the cotyledons to leave a “shot hole” effect. A few holes may not be a problem, but many holes can kill the seedling. Spray, if necessary, with something like cypermethrin.

Stubbles: There is abundant growth in most stubble fields, which will quickly begin to propagate disease. If you can do a shallow cultivation it will kill the existing infected plants and encourage more seeds to grow to provide green cover for winter, if needed. Either way, you are growing out potential problems from your land.

Share farming: Caution is being urged where share farmed land is to be sown with a single crop for 2015. There are still many uncertainties that may have implications. Wait until the small print is known. There are a range of issues that could apply to share farming arrangements, even outside of the greening requirements.

Buffer zones: Buffer zones beside watercourses for nitrates must be at least a 2m buffer strip. This can either be left uncultivated or sown to grass and topped or grazed. The planting of wild flower strips is not permitted in nitrate buffer zones.