Strong demand for organic tillage

STRONG demand has identified the potential to increase the area of organic tillage in this country, Teagasc revealed at a crops open day in Oak Park, Carlow, yesterday.

Teagasc researchers said they estimated a potential annual demand for at least 20,000 tonnes of organically produced cereals within the next five years compared to the 2,200 tonnes currently produced annually.

Exciting developments from the Teagasc Crops Research Centre include two new potato varieties, Setanta and Orla, that are suitable for production on organic farms.

Setanta and Orla are just two of eight new varieties to be bred and released for commercial production on farms in the last five years. They have higher levels of resistance to potato blight and storage diseases.

Results from a trial involving a seven-year stock-less rotation show good grain and potato yields were achieved. Organically grown winter wheat yielded 7.2 tonnes per hectare in 2006 with winter oats yielding 6.2 tonnes per hectare.

The early potato variety Orla yielded 21.2 tonnes per hectare while maincrop variety Setanta yielded 32.6 tonnes per hectare.

Technology to Fuel Profits was the theme of the open day, which was held against a background of a positive market outlook for cereals and possible new outlets for the energy sector.

Opportunities for using land for non-food uses were outlined.