Very mixed weather

Isn’t it amazing how quickly we can go from growth to floods to frost. Just when you think that further growth is unlikely, it gets underway again following a spell of temperatures back in the teens. And then we get floods on land and it gets frozen over again. But it’s winter!

Protein payment: Those of you who grew protein crops (beans, peas or lupins) should have received your protein payment just before Christmas. The €3m Protein Aid Scheme is due to be paid to approximately 1,200 applicants. Because there was an over claim on the max 12,000 hectares in 2017, the payment rate of €250/ha has been decreased to €215/ha – a 14% decrease. This payment is an important support for tillage farmers, native protein production and has environmental benefits.

Soil testing

While spring planting seems a long way off, a fine week at the end at January could get things going in parts of the country. So it is important to have valid soil tests (no more than four years old) to hand for every field.

Get samples taken and analysed as soon as possible. You can plan fertiliser purchase and address any lime issues once you know your test results.

It is foolhardy to attempt to grow crops in new fields where you do not know its soil fertility or in fields that yield poorly where you have no fertility information. Where nutrition is limited the cost benefit of all other inputs is automatically limited.

Essential farm records

Chemical and N and P use records need to be completed for 2017. Ideally N and P records should be done now for 2018 to guide decisions on N and P purchases and allowances.

N and P allowances are based on the maximum amount allowed per hectare per crop in each parcel. This is influenced by rotation and crop type for nitrogen and by crop type and soil test results for phosphate. The allowances can reflect off-take levels so historic yields also influence the rates of nutrient allowed. But you must provide clear proof of a high yield year across your entire acreage of that crop in one of the past three seasons.

The area and allowance that applies to each soil test is based on the parcel size, its soil test result, and the maximum amount allowed for that crop (based on N and P indices and yield level). A 9 t/ha winter barley crop is entitled to a P application rate of 44kg/ha (34+10) on soil Index 2. This would be 34 kgP/ha on an Index 3 soil.

Your farm allowance gives the max amount of N and P that can be applied in a year. Subtract any amount of N or P applied as organic (if any) to the current crops to get the amount of artificial N and P you can use.

Best wishes

I wish all our readers the very best for 2018 and beyond. May this be the year that lifts the depression of low prices, brings yields to another new level and gives us weather to enable timely treatments and harvest.