Weeds
Andy Doyle on 23 Jun 2021
Tillage Management: ramularia is beginning to get away in spring barley
Recent warm sunny conditions have accelerated crop growth to begin to show signs of winter barley harvest but ramularia has become serious in some treated spring barley.
Pat O'Toole on 19 Jun 2021
Losing glyphosate would be a blow to progressive tillage farming
Glyphosate has been at the centre of a culture war, but with the science far from resolved, its banning would be a retrograde step, argues Pat O'Toole.
Kieran Mailey on 12 Jun 2021
Five tips for closing off swards for second cut silage
Where silage has been harvested in early to mid June, fields should be fertilised and closed off for second cut as early as possible. Outlined are five tips for closing off fields for second cut.
James Strain on 11 May 2021
Farmer Writes: grass growth almost non-existent
I now have half my cows back in the shed, with their calves having access to an adjacent paddock, writes James Strain.
Andy Doyle on 05 May 2021
Prevent blackgrass seed return
The prevention of seed return is important for the long-term control of any weed problem but it is critical for blackgrass.
Andy Doyle on 05 May 2021
Tillage Management: crops progressing well despite the recent cold
The recent dry spell has helped get work up to date but now crops need a period of kind growth weather to enable them to build their yield potential.
Kieran Mailey on 04 May 2021
Time to spray weeds in silage swards
With silage ground closed up, now is a good time to target weeds such as docks or thistles before grass covers get too strong.
Darren Carty on 30 Apr 2021
Controlling ragwort and wild bird cover
The best time to control ragwort is when it is in its rosette stage, with treatment options limited and a higher risk of the plant spreading if delayed to flowering stage.
Aidan Brennan on 26 Apr 2021
Clover-safe spray gets emergency approval
Clovermax has received emergency approval for a three-month period only, Aidan Brennan reports.
Peter Thomas Keaveney on 14 Apr 2021
Pasture rejuvenation tools: APV tine harrow
Built in Austria and imported to Ireland by Farmhand, APV offers a grassland tine harrow which can be configured with different APV air seeders.
Gerry Daly on 07 Apr 2021
In the Garden with Gerry Daly: millionaire magnolia
Large flowers, white or pink-purple, some scented, on bare branches, is the appeal of magnolia, writes Gerry Daly
Andy Doyle on 31 Mar 2021
Tillage Management: spring workload is intensifying
There has been a lot of spring planting done but waiting for good seedbed conditions becomes increasingly important as we move later in the year.
Gerald Potterton on 31 Mar 2021
Farmer Writes: beauty in nature is in the eye of the beholder
Even though I’ve told you before about my rewilded hectare, of which I’m quite proud, I’m not a fan of large scale re-wilding projects, of which there are an increasing number.
Andy Doyle on 08 Feb 2021
Integration is the basis of survival
In a state where scale is large and the climate is harsh, the integration of livestock and cropping is critical for farm survival.
Stephen Robb on 21 Jan 2021
Drone software ‘10 times faster’ than traditional crop walking
A new version of the agricultural software programme Drone Ag claims to use artificial intelligence software on drones to speed up crop walking.
Andy Doyle on 09 Dec 2020
Tillage Management: cold and wet bring the season to an end
With soil temperatures well down and lots of rain in the forecast it is now time to put away machinery until close to the end of January.
Andy Doyle on 07 Dec 2020
Tackling weed seed return in crops
The majority of weed control depends on herbicide use, with some practising stale seedbeds, but the use of weed-seed control systems on combines could be a further aid to reduce weed numbers over time.
Stephen Robb on 07 Oct 2020
Early season control of weeds
Andy Doyle and Stephen Robb take a look at some of the herbicide options for winter wheat and barley this autumn
The Dealer on 07 Oct 2020
Not a weed left in the west
The Dealer hears that weedkiller sales soared during lockdown.
Andy Doyle on 30 Sep 2020
Back to help with grasses – tri-allate
The return of a liquid formulation of tri-allate to the market provides an alternative mode of action to help tackle troublesome grassweeds.