Weather

Field conditions are poor, but there are jobs to be done when it dries up. The priority should be weed control on winter cereals. Many farmers have oilseed rape this year, and maybe you should consider lining up a drone to assess the green area index of a crop. This will allow you to cut back on nitrogen, or possibly increase it where needed. A cheaper alternative is to do this assessment on your phone, using a green area index application. If you haven’t soil-sampled in four years, then you should also line that up, as soil sampling services will be in demand in the spring time. If you don’t have up-to-date samples, then you will have to assume index four for phosphorus.

Stocktake

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Do a stock take of plant protection products while filling out crop records. Know what you have in stock and make a list, so that you do not purchase something you already have. Check that all PCS numbers are in date in the store. Out of date PCS numbers mean the product is no longer registered and so it is not legal to spray it.

Help

If you have extra help over Christmas use it for jobs that require more than one person, or to share some heavy lifting. You might need a lift with machinery parts, or help to change something. Farming can be a lonely occupation and a dangerous one, so take advantage of any extra help that might be available.

Events

There are a few events coming up in the next few weeks, like the Teagasc National Tillage Conference on 28 January and the Dairygold Tillage Conference on 9 January. However, there will also be events throughout the year that you might want to put in your calendar. Chief among them should be the Irish Farmers Journal’s Tillage Day on Thursday 5 November 2026. The Cereals Event in the UK takes place on Jeremy Clarkson’s Farm in June. You will need to book ahead if you want to go to that.

Tramlines

We will be looking for farmers to feature in the paper for the coming year. From the Tramlines is a popular page and we want to get a range of farm types, sizes and locations. So if you would be interested in taking part, please let us know by emailing tillagenews@farmersjournal.ie or swalsh@farmersjournal.ie.

We would also like to thank everyone who took part in From the Tramlines this year and who featured in the paper or took part in a podcast.

Farmers’ stories and indeed industry are what make the paper. People want to read about other farmers and learn from them. Your time and openness is appreciated by the readers and the Irish Farmers Journal.

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas to all readers. Take the time to have a break. There will still be jobs to be done on the farm, but try and limit them. It’s a great time to get out for a walk and look at crops.