SeedTech’s trial site is well known to growers across the country because it is widely visited in June and July by trade and farmers alike.
I spoke with manager Patsy Kehoe this week and the first thing he told me is that they have moved location. The south Kilkenny site at Bishopshall is no longer available and a number of other sites are being used, one in Knocktopher in south Kilkenny and another in Faithlegg in Waterford. The former is a heavy ground site while the latter could be described as medium to light.
Seedtech's trials manager, Patsy Kehoe, examining Graham winter wheat earlier this week at the flag leaf emerging stage.
Crops are generally in good condition and exceptionally clean, remarkably clean for the locations, Patsy said. They have had a little rain most weeks, not as much as further south but enough to keep them ticking over until now. With little rain forecast for the week ahead, Patsy feels it likely that crops will begin to suffer.
Spring barley
The spring barley variety trials were sown on 25 March, shortly after the beans. The field is barley after barley and it dried out well during cultivation and was rolled post-sowing. The crop had good emergence and has grown very well. Varieties are now mainly between GS30 and GS31.
While the T1 fungicide has already been applied, there is no sign of any disease up to now
This Faithlegg site is a high disease pressure site, sitting in the bend between the rivers Barrow and Suir. While the T1 fungicide has already been applied, there is no sign of any disease up to now. Neither is there any evidence of any trace element deficiencies, but Patsy told me the crop is going off colour a bit. This could be dryness-related, as the crop grows so rapidly, or it could be lack of major or trace elements in the drier conditions, or it might only be a tinge caused by recent frosts shortly after spraying.
Most varieties are different shades of lush green, with some a little paler or greener than others
Herbicide and aphicide were applied some time ago and Patsy said there are virtually no signs of BYDV, or at least yellow leaves, in the crop.
In general, all varieties look good and they are all broadly at the same growth stage. Most varieties are different shades of lush green, with some a little paler or greener than others. Planet is one that is a bit paler.
Winter barley
Like everywhere else, there were challenges with good winter barley establishment last winter and the plots were sown on 12 November. The plots are now actually at heading out stage and disease pressure remains remarkably low for the area.
Oats
The winter oat plots were sown on 28 October and now the varieties are mainly heading out, with Husky slightly more advanced and the true winter varieties well behind. As with the other crops, there is virtually no disease, even in this high-pressure site which is particularly prone to crown rust.
The spring oat plots were sown on 21 March. Most are now at a strong GS31 and some are touching GS32, Patsy said. The main varieties are broadly similar in every respect, but Husky is visibly just a little more advanced. There is no crown rust or mildew infection or leaf blotching visible currently, but Patsy told me the blotching that is often commonly seen in some oat varieties appears to be breeder or ‘bloodline’ related. And whatever that symptom is, it appears to be highly driven by stress.
Wheat
Sown on 15 November at the Faithlegg site following maize, the winter wheat plots established very well and they continue to do well, Patsy reported. He said flag leaves are now half to three-quarter out on most varieties, but that Graham was later, and Costello was later again.
The varieties are all broadly similar and free of disease
While the varieties might be described as clean for the site, there is some septoria in the crop canopy in unsprayed plots, especially on some varieties.
Spring wheat was sown on 21 March and is now at a strong GS31. The varieties are all broadly similar and free of disease.
The variety that stands out is one called KWS Starlight due to its deep green colour.
Beans
Spring beans were sown on 20 March. They established well and are now 6-8in tall but there are no flowers visible yet. The crop remains very clean and there was extraordinarily little weevil damage evident so no insecticide was applied.
Disease levels are low to zero at these generally testing trial sites.Winter barley and oats are heading out.Winter wheat is at flag leaf emergence stage.
SeedTech’s trial site is well known to growers across the country because it is widely visited in June and July by trade and farmers alike.
I spoke with manager Patsy Kehoe this week and the first thing he told me is that they have moved location. The south Kilkenny site at Bishopshall is no longer available and a number of other sites are being used, one in Knocktopher in south Kilkenny and another in Faithlegg in Waterford. The former is a heavy ground site while the latter could be described as medium to light.
Seedtech's trials manager, Patsy Kehoe, examining Graham winter wheat earlier this week at the flag leaf emerging stage.
Crops are generally in good condition and exceptionally clean, remarkably clean for the locations, Patsy said. They have had a little rain most weeks, not as much as further south but enough to keep them ticking over until now. With little rain forecast for the week ahead, Patsy feels it likely that crops will begin to suffer.
Spring barley
The spring barley variety trials were sown on 25 March, shortly after the beans. The field is barley after barley and it dried out well during cultivation and was rolled post-sowing. The crop had good emergence and has grown very well. Varieties are now mainly between GS30 and GS31.
While the T1 fungicide has already been applied, there is no sign of any disease up to now
This Faithlegg site is a high disease pressure site, sitting in the bend between the rivers Barrow and Suir. While the T1 fungicide has already been applied, there is no sign of any disease up to now. Neither is there any evidence of any trace element deficiencies, but Patsy told me the crop is going off colour a bit. This could be dryness-related, as the crop grows so rapidly, or it could be lack of major or trace elements in the drier conditions, or it might only be a tinge caused by recent frosts shortly after spraying.
Most varieties are different shades of lush green, with some a little paler or greener than others
Herbicide and aphicide were applied some time ago and Patsy said there are virtually no signs of BYDV, or at least yellow leaves, in the crop.
In general, all varieties look good and they are all broadly at the same growth stage. Most varieties are different shades of lush green, with some a little paler or greener than others. Planet is one that is a bit paler.
Winter barley
Like everywhere else, there were challenges with good winter barley establishment last winter and the plots were sown on 12 November. The plots are now actually at heading out stage and disease pressure remains remarkably low for the area.
Oats
The winter oat plots were sown on 28 October and now the varieties are mainly heading out, with Husky slightly more advanced and the true winter varieties well behind. As with the other crops, there is virtually no disease, even in this high-pressure site which is particularly prone to crown rust.
The spring oat plots were sown on 21 March. Most are now at a strong GS31 and some are touching GS32, Patsy said. The main varieties are broadly similar in every respect, but Husky is visibly just a little more advanced. There is no crown rust or mildew infection or leaf blotching visible currently, but Patsy told me the blotching that is often commonly seen in some oat varieties appears to be breeder or ‘bloodline’ related. And whatever that symptom is, it appears to be highly driven by stress.
Wheat
Sown on 15 November at the Faithlegg site following maize, the winter wheat plots established very well and they continue to do well, Patsy reported. He said flag leaves are now half to three-quarter out on most varieties, but that Graham was later, and Costello was later again.
The varieties are all broadly similar and free of disease
While the varieties might be described as clean for the site, there is some septoria in the crop canopy in unsprayed plots, especially on some varieties.
Spring wheat was sown on 21 March and is now at a strong GS31. The varieties are all broadly similar and free of disease.
The variety that stands out is one called KWS Starlight due to its deep green colour.
Beans
Spring beans were sown on 20 March. They established well and are now 6-8in tall but there are no flowers visible yet. The crop remains very clean and there was extraordinarily little weevil damage evident so no insecticide was applied.
Disease levels are low to zero at these generally testing trial sites.Winter barley and oats are heading out.Winter wheat is at flag leaf emergence stage.
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