Tillage experts optimistic over wheat crops, despite dry spell

TILLAGE experts are keeping a close eye on spring barley and wheat crops in the hope that the recent regional dry spells haven’t done too much damage.

While crops in Munster have seen plenty of rainfall, crops in the north-west, north-east and south-east have been hit by near-drought conditions. Yet, despite crops being decimated by drought in central Europe and parts of Russia, experts here remain relatively optimistic.

Teagasc crops specialist Michael Hennessy said: “Growers would be happy with a few days with an inch or one-and-a-half inches of rainfall, than for the rain to stop for two or three weeks, followed by a similar pattern again after that.