Growers 'make hay' while the sun shines

IMPROVED weather this week brought relief to tillage farmers, who still had to sow up to 30% of sugar beet and 10% of spring barley in the middle of last week.

According to Teagasc, virtually no main crop potatoes had been planted, up to 5% of spring barley remained unsown in eastern counties, and as much as 50% in the North West. Bad weather had also held up spraying work.

Much better sugar beet planting progress had been made in the Carlow area than Mallow, but up to half of the crop was unplanted in some southern areas.