There was a large and representative attendance present at the recent tillage seminar organised jointly by Barryroe and Bandon Co-Ops and Teagasc at The Munster Arms Hotel in Bandon.
BY JOHN SEXTON
THERE was a large and representative attendance present at the recent tillage seminar organised jointly by Barryroe and Bandon Co-Ops and Teagasc at The Munster Arms Hotel in Bandon.
Opening the event, John Horgan, Teagasc Cork West regional manager, spoke about the important role of tillage, especially grain production in farming, while the seminar was addressed in detail by two members of the Teagasc staff, Kieran Collins and Michael McCarthy.
Kieran Collins, who is Teagasc crops advisor for East Cork, dealt principally with fertilising of the grain crops and what they take out of the ground especially in the line of P & K, while Michael McCarthy who is Teagasc crops adviser for West Cork, concentrated on the recommended varieties for this year. Leading the pack in the varieties is Gangway, a Danish variety with very high yield potential, a later -maturing variety with good resistance to lodging and straw breakdown, very good resistance to mildew, with good resistance to brown rust and Rhynchosporium, giving excellent grain quality.
Next in line would come KWS Irina, a German variety with high yield potential. It has good resistance to logging and straw breakdown, and good resistance to mildew and blotch and moderate resistance to brown rust and Rynchosporium.
Other varieties, like Mickle, Paustian and RGT Planet, vary with some of the diseases, while recording high yielding prospects, and variety ratings are derived from the mean of data from the 2016-2018 trials. Unless stated otherwise, relative yield of each variety is calculated as a percentage of control varieties.
Gangland is also recommended by Barryroe Co-Op, so growers would be well advised to order their seed requirements before it is too late. Both Kieran and Michael spoke also on the relevant feed value of tillage crops beet and beans. It was noted that fertiliser is up €5 to €10 per ton this year and, while there are rumblings of a cut back in the price of green barley. It is worth noting that sugar beet is up by €5 per ton from last year.
By their strength in numbers at this seminar, the growers are showing their appreciation of the scientific work of the plant breeders and Teagasc. At the conclusion, John Horgan thanked everyone for attending and being so attentive, while Scott Lovell replied on behalf of Barryroe Co-Op.
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