Weather

The combination of snow and severe frost over the past week should mark a definite end to the planting season but there are still bits being sown.

It also means that it is past the time to add antifreeze to equipment that contains water to help prevent damage. If this is not already done and if you have escaped so far, take it that you have been lucky and do it now.

As we push into the second half of December, it looks like some areas of the country will be somewhat dryer than their 30-year average in 2022, while others may be wetter.

Soil temperatures have taken a dive (not surprisingly) and were between 1.2 and 3.6°C at the start of this week.

Walk crops

Take a walk through your crops before Christmas in case there is anything amiss, but after they have thawed so you can see them properly. Pay particular attention to oat crops for fear of frost heave.

Most crops have some bare patches now but they look quite good other than that. Take note of where these bare patches are and see if you can do anything to prevent them appearing in future.

Adding organic matter like straw or compost can help to open up the soil to let water away.

Soil testing

Make sure you have an up-to-date soil test for every 4-5ha of your holding. Valid soil tests are essential for nutrient management plans and tests are invalid if they are more than four years old.

The default values are now Index 4 for P and K (was Index 3) in the absence of a valid test result.Target pH levels to get to 6.5 or higher as a priority.

An essential job

All farmers will be aware of the proposal to cut pesticide use by up to 50% by 2030, or even greater.

While there appears to be some scope for relaxation on the definition of sensitive areas, which could completely ban pesticide use, the proposals will have an impact on all farmers who depend on one type of pesticide or another to run their farms.

The EU completed a public consultation process earlier this year and now the Department of Agriculture is conducting a review of public opinion.

Everyone who is affected by the proposals should respond by outlining the implications of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation (SUR) proposals for their business in a written submission to the DAFM.

If you leave it to others, your opinion may not be heard and you could come to regret it. Others on the opposite side of the debate will engage.

For more details, click here.

I suggest you acknowledge the fact that you want to reduce pesticide use because they are expensive inputs but that removing them would result in the combined loss of yield and quality in the absence of alternative plant protection technologies. Then email your comments to surconsultation@agriculture.gov.ie by Friday 20 January 2023.