Trepidation remains in the tillage sector over how to manage with less pesticides

'Our damp cool conditions are great for producing high cereal yields, but they’re also great for producing things like fungus,' according to Robert McDougall

Ireland has more or less already achieved the EU’s Farm to Fork strategy target to reduce total pesticide use by 50% by 2030.

Irish tillage farmers fear significant crop yield losses due to EU restrictions on the use of plant protection products.

As for research in this area, Teagasc experts have warned of a large knowledge gap in Ireland ahead of the EU plan to reduce the pesticides farmers use to control weeds and crop pests 50% by 2030.