Crops and Spraying 2015 at Teagasc Oakpark in association with the Irish Farmers Journal promises to be the tillage and spraying event of the year.

Crop research from the team at Teagasc Oakpark will be on centre stage. With the Sustainable Use Directive (SUD) focusing attention on sprayers and spraying, this year the open day incorporates a spraying event with live demonstrations organised in conjunction with the Irish Farmers Journal machinery team. This technical demonstration arena will highlight the following key areas:

  • Getting the sprayer ready for the test, identifying the common faults and outlining what is required to pass.
  • Precision farming used in sprayers, and the benefits.
  • Demonstrations of sprayers from the main manufacturers will be on show in the sprayer arena. One sprayer from each manufacturer will be run on the custom track, demonstrating turning ability and boom stability, with live commentary from the panel.
  • A precision agriculture village will showcase technology on offer to the farmer.
  • There will also be a range of other machinery on static display from all of the main manufacturers and dealers, so there will be something for everyone, not just the specialised tillage farmer. These stands will be located all around the central demonstration area.
  • It is planned for this technical machinery event to run three times during the open day, allowing all visitors to check it out at some stage. The times will be indicated on the day. The information on sprayers is not just for tillage farmers, it is for everyone, as the new regulations will require all farmers and machines to comply with the rules on pesticide application.

    For the tillage farmer, the latest technical innovations on a range of crops including winter and spring barley, winter wheat, oats, oilseed rape and beans will be on show.

    In addition, the potato breeding programme will be on display as will variety plots from the DAFM and new sugar beet varieties. There is a particular emphasis on break crops as the research programme responds to the need for crop rotation. The extensive field trial programme will be on view with key topics presented at over 20 information points.

    Even when following the best agronomic advice and aiming for a premium market such as malting barley, income can be lost through incorrect combine settings. The main combine manufacturers will also be on hand to demonstrate how to optimise settings to ensure the crop is fully threshed while minimising losses and damage to grain.

    To give more time to see all that is on offer, the event will run for longer this year – starting at 11am and running through to 6pm on 24 June.

    For all queries in relation to booking exhibitor space and participating in the live sprayer demonstration, contact Kate at the Irish Farmers Journal on 01 4199555 or email machinery@ farmersjournal.ie.