Growers around the country have signalled their intention to begin ploughing next week.
Under measures contained in the Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters Regulations 2018, ploughing of arable land is permitted from 1 December onwards.
Good backend
The good backend has meant that ground conditions had remained reasonable across the whole country up until recently.
Farmers in areas where December ploughing is rarely an option are even considering the option of getting the plough into the ground next week.
However, over the past few weeks, certain areas have been getting above-average rainfall and ground is beginning to soften.
This week, we are set to see a return of wet, windy conditions, which are likely to limit field work. With a cooler week in store, drying opportunities will be limited.
Green cover and desiccation
It’s useful to be reminded of the rules surrounding green cover and ploughing.
For autumn ploughing, the rules state that arable land ploughed between 1 July and 30 November must have a green cover in them from a sown crop within six weeks of ploughing.
Where a non-selective herbicide is used on land between 1 July and 30 November, you must attempt to have green cover established on all of the land within six weeks.
This will either be as a result of a sown crop or natural regeneration.
The minimum area is reduced to 75% on land contracted for seed crops and/or for human consumption.
No till zone
Remember, no ploughing or tilling may take place within 2m of a watercourse (stream/river) marked on the modern 1:5000 OSI scale OSI map or better, except in the case of grassland reseeding or establishment. The no-till zone does not apply to field drains.
Cross compliance inspection
In the event of a cross compliance inspection, these are the main points which are likely to be asked in relation to ploughing and green cover:
Is there evidence that grassland has been ploughed between 16 October and 30 November? Is there evidence of insufficient emergence of green cover from a sown crop by 1 November after the ploughing of grassland between 1 July and 15 October? Is there evidence, where arable land has been ploughed between 1 July and 30 November, of insufficient emergence of green cover within six weeks of the ploughing? Is there evidence of insufficient emergence of green cover within six weeks of the application of a non-selective herbicide between 1 July and 30 November? Note: In the case of seed crops and crops for human consumption where the contract prohibits the use of non-selective herbicide pre-harvest, the requirement to provide green cover is reduced to 75% of the contract area after 15 October. Is there evidence of the complete removal of required green cover, which was established to comply with these regulations by ploughing or the use of non-selective herbicide before the 1 December unless a crop is sown within two weeks of its removal? Is there evidence of ploughing or cultivation for non-grass crops within 2m of a watercourse marked on the modern 1:5000 OSI mapping or better? Read more
Cahir and Enniscorthy next stops for Beet Ireland
Smallest grain harvest in 23 years
Growers around the country have signalled their intention to begin ploughing next week.
Under measures contained in the Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters Regulations 2018, ploughing of arable land is permitted from 1 December onwards.
Good backend
The good backend has meant that ground conditions had remained reasonable across the whole country up until recently.
Farmers in areas where December ploughing is rarely an option are even considering the option of getting the plough into the ground next week.
However, over the past few weeks, certain areas have been getting above-average rainfall and ground is beginning to soften.
This week, we are set to see a return of wet, windy conditions, which are likely to limit field work. With a cooler week in store, drying opportunities will be limited.
Green cover and desiccation
It’s useful to be reminded of the rules surrounding green cover and ploughing.
For autumn ploughing, the rules state that arable land ploughed between 1 July and 30 November must have a green cover in them from a sown crop within six weeks of ploughing.
Where a non-selective herbicide is used on land between 1 July and 30 November, you must attempt to have green cover established on all of the land within six weeks.
This will either be as a result of a sown crop or natural regeneration.
The minimum area is reduced to 75% on land contracted for seed crops and/or for human consumption.
No till zone
Remember, no ploughing or tilling may take place within 2m of a watercourse (stream/river) marked on the modern 1:5000 OSI scale OSI map or better, except in the case of grassland reseeding or establishment. The no-till zone does not apply to field drains.
Cross compliance inspection
In the event of a cross compliance inspection, these are the main points which are likely to be asked in relation to ploughing and green cover:
Is there evidence that grassland has been ploughed between 16 October and 30 November? Is there evidence of insufficient emergence of green cover from a sown crop by 1 November after the ploughing of grassland between 1 July and 15 October? Is there evidence, where arable land has been ploughed between 1 July and 30 November, of insufficient emergence of green cover within six weeks of the ploughing? Is there evidence of insufficient emergence of green cover within six weeks of the application of a non-selective herbicide between 1 July and 30 November? Note: In the case of seed crops and crops for human consumption where the contract prohibits the use of non-selective herbicide pre-harvest, the requirement to provide green cover is reduced to 75% of the contract area after 15 October. Is there evidence of the complete removal of required green cover, which was established to comply with these regulations by ploughing or the use of non-selective herbicide before the 1 December unless a crop is sown within two weeks of its removal? Is there evidence of ploughing or cultivation for non-grass crops within 2m of a watercourse marked on the modern 1:5000 OSI mapping or better? Read more
Cahir and Enniscorthy next stops for Beet Ireland
Smallest grain harvest in 23 years
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