Oilseed rape: If you have organic manure, oilseed rape is an ideal crop to take it up, apply it and incorporate it in ahead of planting. Time is moving on for planting oilseed rape.

Growers keep waiting for some moisture, but it hasn’t come. However, planting cannot continue to be delayed.

There is some rain in the forecast and you want a warm seedbed for the plant to take off. You can plant up to 10 September or even a bit beyond it, but it would be nice to get crops in by the end of August if conditions allow.

ADVERTISEMENT

It’s awkward though as some are trying to get some weed control done with glyphosate before cultivating. Choose a variety suited to your farm and consider a pre-emergence herbicide where possible. There is a nice bit of rain in the forecast for next week, which will be welcomed by anyone sowing crops in the coming days.

Grass weeds: If you have grass weed issues then plan carefully. Are there some that have come up in stubbles that can be sprayed off? Do you need to cultivate to get some to germinate? Are there fields that you should leave until spring time to plant a crop in to reduce the levels of weeds?

Catch crops: As more rain arrives it might be easier to plant catch crops and cultivate land. You need to over-winter plant catch crops under the Farming for Water programme by 1 September and for ACRES by 15 September. Remember if you are planting catch or cover crops for grazing you need to have a 3m uncultivated strip around the perimeter of the field.

You also need a lie-back area that takes up 30% of the total grazing area. This should be cultivated and allowed to naturally regenerate.

Straw parcels: Don’t forget to remove any straw parcels from the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) if you did not chop the straw under the scheme. You may have found a buyer or use for that straw since you applied.

Talk to your adviser, email sim@agriculture.gov.ie, or phone 057-867-4422.

If you chopped straw under the SIM and have not cultivated it in due to the dry conditions, then do this as soon as possible. You do not need to cultivate any other parcels for nitrates rules, but you do need to have a green cover on fields over the winter, so you may need to cultivate some fields or you may need to cultivate for weed control.

Whiskey rules: Anyone wishing to have their say on the Irish whiskey product specification (technical file) needs to make a submission to the consultation by 4 September 2026. The rules apply to how Irish whiskey is made both north and south.

Submissions do not need to take a certain layout, but should include a 300-word summary at the start. The consultation ends on 4 September 2026 at 4pm. Submissions are to be sent via email to spiritdrinksconsultation@agriculture.gov.ie and labelled “Public Consultation Irish Whiskey”. You should note that submissions will be available under the Freedom of Information Act.