Tillage farmer Bobby Miller from Rathmore in Co. Laois is preparing the soil to sow a Lynx variety of beans.

"Ground conditions are near to perfect. I ploughed in a catch crop that had been grazed, and the land turned up lovely. It's still a little early to sow spring barley. Spring wheat acreage is low around here, but it's ideal weather for planting it.Winter crops look healthy and are getting their first fertiliser of the spring this week. It's disappointing to be sowing malting barley without a deal agreed, growers deserve better," says Bobby.

Andy Nolan from Ballinastraw, Bunlody, Co Wexford ploughing headland ahead of sowing spring barley. \ Philip Doyle

Jim Tait in Whitegate, east Cork, said that spring beans will be first on the agenda when he starts spring planting. But for the moment he is spreading 15-3-15 on his winter barley.

“It looked a bit tired and needed a bit of a boost,” he said. “We are harvesting fodder beet as well and demand is slow. The weather is good but soil temperature is what’s important. It was 16°C here on Tuesday, I even saw honey bees flying around.”

Jason Gorman from Kilcrow, Athy rotivating soil in preparation for the planting of British Queen potatoes. \ Philip Doyle

Meanwhile, John McGrane in Dunleer, Co Louth, said that he had more sown at the backend of last year than usual.

“There’s time enough still. Ground is good but it’s still February,” he said. “I got caught the day of the snow last year, we’re always fighting with nature. I’ll be grazing the lambs on fodder crops and next year I’m going to sow radishes with oats.”

Noel Furlong from Corrigeen in Stadbally, Co Laois spraying off grass for a local farmer who plans on ploughing soon. \ Philip Doyle

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