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Potato planting is now around 80% complete nationwide. However, as reported last week, planting progress has been staggered largely depending on location.
Finishing the last of the planting in the south has been a challenge on account of a very broken April.
The northwest has fared much better than most areas, as it experienced a much drier April than normal.
However, progress in the northeast has been challenging, with heavy ground slower to dry out.
From the Tramlines progress
This week, we featured Dublin potato and grain farmer Ronan Snow on From the Tramlines.
The bulk of Ronan’s planting was completed over a period of two weeks. He typically ploughs, grubs, rotavates, ridges and destones before planting.
Farmyard manure and spent compost manure was spread on the land before ploughing and an application of Rooster Booster (6:5:20) was broadcast on the seedbed.
Amistar was sprayed on some of the drills for rhizoctonia control.
He didn’t plough ahead of himself too far on account of the weather.
His earlier-sown Queen potatoes are now beginning to emerge.
He sprayed his first 15ac of potatoes with last week with Retro (2l/ha), Defy (4l/ha) and Shotput (0.5kg/ha), as there was a good flush of weeds present.
Due to the drought last year, Ronan had to use Fazor, which meant that he had to buy all of his certified seed this year, representing a large additional cost.
For a full report on Ronan, pick up a copy of this week's paper.
Watch the video of Ronan planting below.
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