Tillage farms also hit by bad weather
Tillage farmers hit by the bad weather welcomed yesterday’s EU Commission decision to grant them a 2018 derogation on the crop diversification requirement.
IFA said this will give growers the required flexibility to maximise their acreage of arable crops.
Joe Healy of IFA said, “Today’s decision by Commissioner Hogan is a pragmatic move, recognising the severe difficulties faced by growers in what is proving to be one of the latest springs in living memory.”
Winter barley will more than likely suffer a yield reduction, warned Teagasc Tillage Specialist Ciaran Collins early this week, because the crop had not received the first split of nitrogen, or had weeds controlled.
“The wet autumn and spring means that very few crops are up to date with weed control, fertiliser and fungicide. A small proportion has received nothing to date,” said Mr Collins.
Teagasc Tillage Specialist Shay Phelan said, “Little or no spring planting has been done to date. Spring wheat, spring oats and beans are past their optimum planting date. Crops planted from now on will be lower yielding and will result in a late harvest.”
Growing premium crops such as malting barley will be more difficult this year due to late planting. “Growers should err on the lower side of nitrogen applications to ensure specifications are achieved,” said Teagasc Head of Crops Knowledge Transfer Michael Hennessy.
He pointed to opportunities for tillage farmers and livestock farmers to co-operate this year. Livestock farmers know that forage feed stocks need to be replenished, and that first cut silage will be of lower yield and potentially lower quality. Other forages can be grown by tillage farmers and delivered to livestock farmers, but both parties need to plan these requirements now.
“Tillage farmers are looking for rotational opportunities, and there is still time to plant maize and beet for sale locally,” said Mr Hennessy.
“However, tillage farmers need to be confident a suitable arrangement is in place so that the fodder can be delivered and payment received. These crops will also help to spread the workload which is mounting on tillage farms at present.”
“Putting in a payment plan for the costs of growing the forage, with stage payments through the summer and a final settlement when the forage is delivered, is an ideal way for farmers to work together.”
Tom O’Dwyer, Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer in Teagasc, said: “Forages from tillage farms are an extremely useful solution on many farms, but in order to have a medium term sustainable solution, inter-farm trading needs to be of benefit to both parties, and integrated solutions such as the use of slurries to produce forages on these farms should be considered.”
