Winter ploughing

Now that December is with us again the season opens for winter ploughing. Soil temperatures have dropped back closer to normal for the time of year and air temperatures have been below normal for the past week.

These conditions certainly do not favour autumn growth or crops establishment and in many cases ground conditions are too wet for ploughing.

The obligation to establish green cover within six weeks of ploughing or spraying-off also ends on 1 December.

However, only kill vegetation now if it is carrying significant weeds, pests or diseases. Aim to minimise the length of time that soil has no cover so only spray what needs to be sprayed.

If you can get land ploughed soon the breakdown of soil caused by frost etc in cold conditions is tilling without cost. This is especially useful on soils that are difficult to till in springtime. A good frost tilth makes a great start.

Catch crops and GLAS

Those in GLAS who failed to get catch crops planted need to notify the GLAS Division at glas@agriculture.gov.ie that they failed to plant.

Failure to do this means you cannot get the force majeure exemption and you could be subject to a BPS penalty.

Those who declare that they could not plant will not suffer a penalty but neither will they be paid for the relevant catch crop area.

Catch crops planted under GLAS can be grazed (or sprayed off) after 1 December but those planted in October cannot be grazed (or sprayed off) until after 1 January. If crops are to be grazed now (GLAS or not) it is best to leave a proportion of the total vegetation on the field to help protect soil.

Delay spraying off also unless weeds are flowering or the crop is going to seed.

Read more

Tillage management: slugs, establishment and soil testing