Harvest progress

It was around this time last year that the weather became very disagreeable and the bulk of harvesting is now completed. Even spring wheat is now being cut in parts of the south but weather for harvesting spring barley has become disagreeable in the west and northwest once again.

Yields have improved somewhat in later-maturing crops, as might be expected. However, 2018 will be remembered by many growers as one of the lowest-yielding years in decades. Rotation and fresh ground helped greatly except on the lightest of ground, which was really badly hit.

Stubbles

For stubbles that are not being used for fodder production, this is good weather for simple cultivation. There is now enough moisture to germinate weed and volunteer seeds. Stubbles cultivated for the past few weeks have greened up and these should now be cultivated again.

Cultivation should be as shallow as possible. Where possible, try to get organic manures, litters or composts out on land. High-N products should be incorporated but leave low-N products on top of the ground for as long as possible.

Oilseed rape

Plant oilseed rape in the coming week. Earlier planting makes more autumn growth to use the residual fertility in the ground. And there may be higher soil residual N this autumn.

Think about the field choice and recent husbandry. The dry summer could mean that late application of herbicide could leave herbicide residues that might hit rape. This could be worst in min-till situations.

Rape remains a good break crop, especially on heavier ground. Price seems reasonably attractive (about €380/t) for next year so consider selling some forward if you plant. Plant conventional varieties first, especially where manures were used, and the hybrids a little later. Consider a Clearfield variety in fields that have a lot of brassica weeds or hedge mustard. Seed rates should be 60-70 seeds/m2 for conventional varieties and 30-35 seeds/m2 for hybrids.

Catch crops

Get all catch, GLAS or fodder crops sown as quickly as possible. Planting delays mean less growth and that is the main purpose of planting.

Plant using min-till but consider the possibility of herbicide residues. If you are growing a fodder rape/leafy turnip mix or a hybrid rape or kale you are allowed to apply up to 110kg N/ha, 20kg P/ha and 50kg K/ha on Index 3 ground. If soil improvement is part of your objective you should seriously consider part-grazing and leaving the rest of the vegetation to go back into the land during cultivation.

Imported fodder

With so much talk about fodder at the moment, and especially imported fodder, it is essential that those importing source their materials from places that do not threaten the future of tillage farming here. Fodder sources that contain undesirable contaminants such as blackgrass could further threaten tillage farming here in Ireland.