Fallow land 2016 option for tillage farmers

With no more than 30% of spring cereals sown nationally, Teagasc advisers warned last week that leaving land fallow was a serious contender as an option for spring cereal land, because late plantings were likely to result in lower yields.

All growers were advised to complete a financial analysis of the potential returns from cropping. Advisors said last week it was “very late” for spring oats and spring wheat, but the two crop or three crop diversification rules had to be taken into account before deciding not to plant.

Spring oilseed rape was suggested as an attractive option versus late drilled feed cereal. Spring rape should be drilled into good seedbeds for rapid emergence to suppress weeds and ensure early harvest.