Tillage farmers on cusp of new era

TILLAGE farmers, after a prolonged period of uncertainty, are well-placed to make commercial decisions based on the realities of the marketplace, according to Teagasc.

Professor Jimmy Burke, Head of Teagasc Crops Research Centre, Oak Park, Carlow, said the sector has entered a new era with higher returns and new opportunities opening up at home and abroad for the grain and oilseed sector. He was announcing details of the Teagasc national tillage conference that Irish and British experts will address in the Dolmen Hotel, Carlow, next Wednesday. Latest data on production and marketing of cereals will also be featured.

This year’s conference follows a good production year in the tillage sector where crop yields and quality were very good despite real difficulties encountered during the growing season, especially at harvest time.

Teagasc researchers Dermot Forristal, Richie Hackett and Brendan Dunne will present the results of Oak Park’s crops research programme on reducing costs and maximising profit on tillage farms.

The future profitability of tillage in the new pricing scenario will be dealt with by Teagasc specialists Tim O’Donovan and Michael Hennessy.

Tillage programme manager Jim O’Mahony will profile developments.

Jon Duffy, from Frontier Agriculture in Britain, will discuss the issue of food, fuel and volatility on the world grain markets as well as dealing with the impact of the bioethanol market on the grain sector.

Ronan Hughes, R&H Hall, will deal with developments in feed grain markets and outline the future prospects for grain demand.