Donal O’Keeffe,

Delvin, Co Westmeath

Donal's gluten-free oats have responded well to the recent increase in temperatures.

“If I were to describe the situation in my fields, I’d say the winter crops have wintered quite badly,” explains Donal.

His winter crops vary significantly in condition, ranging from good to very poor and won’t make a viable crop.

He’s growing two varieties of winter barley

He explains that the weather has gone from very wet and cold to very dry and cold, and as a result, growth had been slow.

However, warmer temperatures this week have helped kick-start growth.

He’s growing two varieties of winter barley and there’s a marked difference between the two. His Cassia crops are looking reasonably well, while his Valerie crops are very poor.

The crops currently stand at around 100kg N/ha

Both were sown around the same time, but Donal explains that establishment of his Valerie variety was poor and they didn’t stand the wet weather over winter.

Both crops received 30kg N/ha in early February, while his Valerie crops also received Moddus (0.125l/ha), K2 (0.8l/ha) and various trace elements sprays.

The crops currently stand at around 100kg N/ha and the main split will be applied this week.

All of his winter crops received an application of a custom-made Kieserit blend of 11:5:15, plus magnesium, sulphur and boron.

Around 3.6ha of his direct-drilled winter wheat will have to be replanted, as the crop failed to emerge.

Donal is very happy with his Isabel winter oats and his Husky crops are not far behind

This crop was drilled following spring barley. However, his winter wheat, which was direct-drilled after spring beans, is doing well.

He also has winter wheat crop that was one-passed directly into disced ground, as well as crops drilled into ploughed ground. Both are doing OK.

Nitrogen rates vary from 73kg N/ha to 116kg N/ha, depending on the crop.

Donal is very happy with his Isabel winter oats and his Husky crops are not far behind. There is however, 3ha of the crop which has failed due to waterlogging and he plans on sowing a deep-rooting cover crop mix in that area instead.

Donal’s spring planting campaign is coming to an end, having sown spring barley and beans. More on this next month.

Philip Heskin

Lismore, Co Waterford

Philip's Graham winter wheat crops, which were sown after beet, are thin.

Field conditions are perfect in Lismore. Over the last two weeks, Philip has been able to complete planting.

He started ploughing around three weeks ago, giving the ground a chance to dry out before drilling.

He ploughs with a five-furrow Lemken reversible plough with his Claas Arion 640 tractor.

He moved onto drilling his spring barley next, some of which is destined for seed while the rest is for feed

Planting began soon after, starting with Isabel oats at 160kg/ha. The first of these oat crops are now peeping and he will decide his spring herbicide programme over the coming days.

He moved onto drilling his spring barley next, some of which is destined for seed while the rest is for feed.

This year, he’s growing Gangway, Prospect and Planet, drilling at around 173kg/ha.

The TGW of the seed varied from 46g-49g, and he had to vary his seeding rates accordingly. All of his spring crops were rolled after drilling.

Any ground that didn’t receive its planned compound due to timing pressure will receive an application at the end of the week

Philip used a contractor to spread some of his spring compound fertiliser (13.5:0:25 or 14:6:20 at 120kg/ha) onto the furrows, prior to grubbing and drilling with his Lemken Solitair 8 3m one-pass.

Any ground that didn’t receive its planned compound due to timing pressure will receive an application at the end of the week.

He explains that his winter crops are looking OK, considering the tough winter. His most advanced Pixel and Kosmos winter barley crops are currently around GS30-31.

They were brought up to 175kg N/ha last week. Earlier this week, he applied Moddus (0.15l/ha), CCC (0.15l/ha), Epso Combitop (1kg/ha), as well as Proline (0.6l/ha).

His Graham winter wheat crops following beet were particularly under pressure, and Philip was considering his replanting options.

However, an early application of 38kg N/ha in February, followed by growthy conditions this week, has helped the crop recover somewhat.

His wheat crops were sprayed with Allister Flex (1l/ha) and CCC (0.5l/ha) last week to promote tillering and have been brought up to 175kg N/ha.

His Isabel winter oat crop is doing quite well, at around GS 30-31. The crop has been brought up to 160kg N/ha.

David Matthews

Bangor, Co Down

David sowing the last of his Hacker spring barley in great conditions this week.

The weather has improved significantly in Bangor over the past two weeks, allowing many growers to make good progress with spring planting. David is nearing completion of his spring planting campaign.

This year, he’s growing Planet, Irina, Iconic, Diablo and Hacker. Some of these varieties were selected by the farmers he does contract work for.

All spring ground received 7,500 gallons of cattle slurry/ha

He noted a large variation in seed TGW between varieties and seed batches, ranging from 40g to 52g. Aiming for 300 seeds/m2, seed rates varied from 145kg/ha to 170kg/ha, reaffirming the importance of adjusting seed rates based on seed weight.

All spring ground received 7,500 gallons of cattle slurry/ha, which was ploughed down immediately with a Kverneland ES85 five-furrow plough. Each field received an application of P and K on the furrows prior to power harrowing and drilling. Rates varied depending on the fields.

David also applied half of the crops nitrogen (60-80kg N/ha) requirements prior to drilling. All crops were rolled after drilling.

All of his Orwell, Bazooka and Infinity crops have now been brought up to 205kg N/ha

The milder weather has made a marked difference in his winter crops. His InV1035 winter oilseed rape continues to recover from bad slug damage, and is now at 190kg N/ha.

Any winter barley crop on north-facing hills are thin, while southern-facing crops are looking quite well.

All of his Orwell, Bazooka and Infinity crops have now been brought up to 205kg N/ha.

David is growing Mascani winter oats this year for milling for the first time

Some of his winter wheat was also badly grazed with slugs. He rolled these crops last week to promote tillering. All of his Graham, LG Spotlight, Dunston and Zyatt have been brought up to 130kg N/ha, but have received no herbicide yet.

David is growing Mascani winter oats this year for milling for the first time. The crop will be grown for White’s Oats.

He says he’s always on the lookout for value added markets, which led to him growing porridge oats. So far, he is happy with how the crop is developing and has applied 80kg N/ha.