The normally annual suite of Teagasc spring tillage events, which includes the national tillage conference, regional seminars, malting barley conference and field walks, have been curtailed by COVID-19 restrictions and will take place online.

There are seven different online events planned over the next six weeks. These begin next week and continue to 23 February. The first two events will be advisory webinars, starting on Tuesday 19 January, with the second one on 21 January. The first webinar will deal with topics such as spring cereal varieties, the incorporation of straw for carbon accumulation and matters relating to Glas and biodiversity.

The second advisory webinar on Thursday 21 January will focus on a range of different topics. These include matters relating to Brexit, the use and benefit of organic manures and the production and use of field beans. Both seminars commence at 11.30am and are due to finish around 1pm. Online registration in advance is essential for all these events.

Two-day conference

On Wednesday 3 February, the first of two online sessions will take place to replace the tillage conference. They commence at 9.30am.

The first session will have presentations on oat agronomy, BYDV diagnostics, generating high-value breeding material, the potential of rye and agronomy of beans.

The second conference webinar on 17 February will deal with the increasingly important topics of integrated pest management, mitigating grassweed problems, septoria control and results from the Teagasc systems trial.

Virtual crop walks

Between the two previously mentioned events, there will be two ‘virtual’ winter-crop walks on Tuesday 9 and Thursday 11 February. These will provide growers with the opportunity to discuss spring husbandry issues, with the opportunity for discussion with advisers.

The final event will replace the annual malting barley conference. This will take place on 23 February, with times to be announced.

It is essential to register in advance for each event.