Athy, Co Kildare
Spring planting opportunities came in two real bursts this season, explains Andrew. The broken weather hampered progress in Kildare over the past few months. Ground was slow to dry and it was the fields on the farm with good covers over winter which were first to be sown, as they were generally the driest.
Andrew making the best of the better ground conditions to plant his Limona seed barley after beans.Running a direct-drilling system, Andrew has virtually all of his spring crops planted, with just a small amount of lucerne and trial companion crops left to sow.
With the relaxation of the three-crop rule, he has decided not to plant spring wheat, but the remaining cropping plan has stayed in place.
A planting season of two halves
The first tranche of sowing took place three weeks ago. Andrew sowed his Scuba spring peas for Bachelors at 145kg/ha in good conditions before spraying with Lingo (1.0l/ha) and Nirvana (3.0l/ha). He then sowed the bulk of his Planet malting barley and the non-GN distilling variety, Laureate, at 180-200kg/ha and his Husky oats at 180kg/ha.
“It could be difficult to meet the malting spec this year unless we get a really good burst of growth now.” Around 160kg/ha of 5:6:35 was applied post-sowing on the barley and oats and a further 50kg/ha of SulCAN was applied on the same day. These crops will be brought up to 125kg N/ha in the coming week. Andrew also started sowing his spring Limona seed barley at (175kg/ha) and it has received 360kg/ha of 0:8:21 so far.
The second tranche of sowing came two weeks ago where he finished sowing malting and seed barley and then moved on to beans, planting at 245kg/ha. Planting beans was still worth it, explains Andrew, as the anticipated increased protein payment may help spread the risk of lower yield. The large bean seed (720g TGW) made planting difficult.
Around 100kg/ha Polysulphate was spread on all ground pre-sowing. All crops then received a starter liquid compound of either 6:10:0 or 7:8:1 at a rate of 100l/ha using a modified 4m trailed Horsch Co4 drill pulled with his Fendt 818. “Trafficability for spraying and spreading fertiliser wasn’t a problem, but there were only two occasions when ground was really good enough for sowing.”
Poyntzpass,
Co Down
After a spell of favourable spring weather, which allowed the majority of the spring ground work to be completed, mixed conditions have returned to Simon’s farm once again. Despite the showers, ground conditions have held up well and crop husbandry tasks are largely up to date.
All of the spring crops were sown within the last three weeks with no changes to the cropping plan. All fields were ploughed, rolled and levelled with a Cross roller and sown with his Horsch Pronto Express 3m mounted seed drill using a Fendt 720. 
Simon applying (product plus rate) on (crop) using his Hardi TWIN air assistance 24 meter sprayer. “Once fields have been ploughed, they’re generally ready for sowing a couple of days later,” explains Simon.
Beans were planted in the second week of April in reasonable conditions. In 2014, beans were planted around the same date and performed reasonably well but were harvested late. Fuego beans were planted at 250kg/ha and received a pre-emergence herbicide of Nirvana (4.5l/ha).
Husky oats were sown at 165kg/ha but have been slow to emerge. The crops will receive 70kg N/ha within the next 10 days, followed by an application of Prompt (1.0l/ha) herbicide.
Weather takes toll on wheat
Simon is generally happy with his winter crops but some of the wheat crops are now looking slightly backward. Wheat is anywhere between GS26-31 and has received its second split of 90kg N/ha plus 27kg/ha of sulphur which was applied in liquid form.
Winter oats are around GS31 and have received 60kg N/ha, plus 18kg S/ha this week. Oats have now received all of their N, topped off at 150kg N/ha.
Winter crops are clean but with some low levels of septoria evident. Wheat has received a T1 spray consisting of Brutus (2l/ha) and Divexo (2l/ha), EPSO Top trace element (7kg/ha), as well as Medax Max (0.3kg/ha).
Winter oats received an application of Medax Max (0.3kg/ha) last week and will receive Capalo (1.5l/ha), EPSO Top trace element (7kg/ha) later this week. WOSR is at early flowering and is up to date with husbandry.
“It’s good to have the crops in. It’s a bit of a relief considering where we were a few weeks ago. But we still have plenty to do”.
Tralee, Co Kerry
Good planting progress has been made in north Kerry over the past couple of weeks following months of broken weather, says Ronan.
Ploughing was completed 10 days ago and Ronan has been seizing every opportunity to sow spring cereals with his 3m mounted Amazone seed drill using his Massey Ferguson 7620. He is currently 95% through sowing. All of his Gangway and Irina spring barley was sown at 180-190kg/ha into mixed conditions. The seed rates were increased slightly due to the late spring. He expects to finish sowing his Yukon spring oats, at 180kg/ha, later this week. 
Ronan sowing the last of his Yukon spring oats in reasonable conditions.All spring ground received slurry earlier in the spring followed by 145kg/ha of 18:6:12 on the seedbed before drilling. Ronan plans to apply 120kg/ha of muriate of potash in the next 10 days and bring the total N up to 137kg N/ha.
Winter crops up to date
At GS32-33, Ronan’s winter crops are looking reasonable and lush and have received all of their nitrogen. The crops were topped off with 27% N plus 3.6% sulphur to bring the total up to 200kg N/ha three weeks ago.
The ground received slurry and farmyard manure last year and Ronan planned to apply 0:9:25 at the time of sowing last autumn if weather had allowed. However, he now plans to spread 100kg/ha of muriate of potash this week instead of spreading compound fertiliser.
“The crops don’t really need P now so I’m going to go out with straight K,” he said.
Disease pressure is low in his Quadra, Carneval and Tower winter barley. However, there are a number of slugs present in the crops. Around three weeks ago, Ronan applied a T1 spray consisting of CCC (1.25l/ha), Siltra (0.6/ha) and Optimus (0.2l/ha), as well as Gramitrel (1.5l/ha) trace element mix containing copper, manganese, zinc and magnesium. He plans to stick to the original plan of a three-spray programme. The T2 spray at GS39 will consist of Bontima (1.25l/ha) and will be applied in the coming week.
“It’s not that late down here. If the weather comes right from now on and everything goes to plan I don’t think there’s much yield-potential loss in our spring barley.”
Athy, Co Kildare
Spring planting opportunities came in two real bursts this season, explains Andrew. The broken weather hampered progress in Kildare over the past few months. Ground was slow to dry and it was the fields on the farm with good covers over winter which were first to be sown, as they were generally the driest.
Andrew making the best of the better ground conditions to plant his Limona seed barley after beans.Running a direct-drilling system, Andrew has virtually all of his spring crops planted, with just a small amount of lucerne and trial companion crops left to sow.
With the relaxation of the three-crop rule, he has decided not to plant spring wheat, but the remaining cropping plan has stayed in place.
A planting season of two halves
The first tranche of sowing took place three weeks ago. Andrew sowed his Scuba spring peas for Bachelors at 145kg/ha in good conditions before spraying with Lingo (1.0l/ha) and Nirvana (3.0l/ha). He then sowed the bulk of his Planet malting barley and the non-GN distilling variety, Laureate, at 180-200kg/ha and his Husky oats at 180kg/ha.
“It could be difficult to meet the malting spec this year unless we get a really good burst of growth now.” Around 160kg/ha of 5:6:35 was applied post-sowing on the barley and oats and a further 50kg/ha of SulCAN was applied on the same day. These crops will be brought up to 125kg N/ha in the coming week. Andrew also started sowing his spring Limona seed barley at (175kg/ha) and it has received 360kg/ha of 0:8:21 so far.
The second tranche of sowing came two weeks ago where he finished sowing malting and seed barley and then moved on to beans, planting at 245kg/ha. Planting beans was still worth it, explains Andrew, as the anticipated increased protein payment may help spread the risk of lower yield. The large bean seed (720g TGW) made planting difficult.
Around 100kg/ha Polysulphate was spread on all ground pre-sowing. All crops then received a starter liquid compound of either 6:10:0 or 7:8:1 at a rate of 100l/ha using a modified 4m trailed Horsch Co4 drill pulled with his Fendt 818. “Trafficability for spraying and spreading fertiliser wasn’t a problem, but there were only two occasions when ground was really good enough for sowing.”
Poyntzpass,
Co Down
After a spell of favourable spring weather, which allowed the majority of the spring ground work to be completed, mixed conditions have returned to Simon’s farm once again. Despite the showers, ground conditions have held up well and crop husbandry tasks are largely up to date.
All of the spring crops were sown within the last three weeks with no changes to the cropping plan. All fields were ploughed, rolled and levelled with a Cross roller and sown with his Horsch Pronto Express 3m mounted seed drill using a Fendt 720.
Simon applying (product plus rate) on (crop) using his Hardi TWIN air assistance 24 meter sprayer.
“Once fields have been ploughed, they’re generally ready for sowing a couple of days later,” explains Simon.
Beans were planted in the second week of April in reasonable conditions. In 2014, beans were planted around the same date and performed reasonably well but were harvested late. Fuego beans were planted at 250kg/ha and received a pre-emergence herbicide of Nirvana (4.5l/ha).
Husky oats were sown at 165kg/ha but have been slow to emerge. The crops will receive 70kg N/ha within the next 10 days, followed by an application of Prompt (1.0l/ha) herbicide.
Weather takes toll on wheat
Simon is generally happy with his winter crops but some of the wheat crops are now looking slightly backward. Wheat is anywhere between GS26-31 and has received its second split of 90kg N/ha plus 27kg/ha of sulphur which was applied in liquid form.
Winter oats are around GS31 and have received 60kg N/ha, plus 18kg S/ha this week. Oats have now received all of their N, topped off at 150kg N/ha.
Winter crops are clean but with some low levels of septoria evident. Wheat has received a T1 spray consisting of Brutus (2l/ha) and Divexo (2l/ha), EPSO Top trace element (7kg/ha), as well as Medax Max (0.3kg/ha).
Winter oats received an application of Medax Max (0.3kg/ha) last week and will receive Capalo (1.5l/ha), EPSO Top trace element (7kg/ha) later this week. WOSR is at early flowering and is up to date with husbandry.
“It’s good to have the crops in. It’s a bit of a relief considering where we were a few weeks ago. But we still have plenty to do”.
Tralee, Co Kerry
Good planting progress has been made in north Kerry over the past couple of weeks following months of broken weather, says Ronan.
Ploughing was completed 10 days ago and Ronan has been seizing every opportunity to sow spring cereals with his 3m mounted Amazone seed drill using his Massey Ferguson 7620. He is currently 95% through sowing. All of his Gangway and Irina spring barley was sown at 180-190kg/ha into mixed conditions. The seed rates were increased slightly due to the late spring. He expects to finish sowing his Yukon spring oats, at 180kg/ha, later this week.
Ronan sowing the last of his Yukon spring oats in reasonable conditions.All spring ground received slurry earlier in the spring followed by 145kg/ha of 18:6:12 on the seedbed before drilling. Ronan plans to apply 120kg/ha of muriate of potash in the next 10 days and bring the total N up to 137kg N/ha.
Winter crops up to date
At GS32-33, Ronan’s winter crops are looking reasonable and lush and have received all of their nitrogen. The crops were topped off with 27% N plus 3.6% sulphur to bring the total up to 200kg N/ha three weeks ago.
The ground received slurry and farmyard manure last year and Ronan planned to apply 0:9:25 at the time of sowing last autumn if weather had allowed. However, he now plans to spread 100kg/ha of muriate of potash this week instead of spreading compound fertiliser.
“The crops don’t really need P now so I’m going to go out with straight K,” he said.
Disease pressure is low in his Quadra, Carneval and Tower winter barley. However, there are a number of slugs present in the crops. Around three weeks ago, Ronan applied a T1 spray consisting of CCC (1.25l/ha), Siltra (0.6/ha) and Optimus (0.2l/ha), as well as Gramitrel (1.5l/ha) trace element mix containing copper, manganese, zinc and magnesium. He plans to stick to the original plan of a three-spray programme. The T2 spray at GS39 will consist of Bontima (1.25l/ha) and will be applied in the coming week.
“It’s not that late down here. If the weather comes right from now on and everything goes to plan I don’t think there’s much yield-potential loss in our spring barley.”
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