Opinion
I think it’s safe to confirm that climate change is a reality. What’s more, this process continues to build momentum
Tillage
The use of native grown hybrid rye in pig diets has increased in recent times and quantities available for feeding seem set to increase.
This year’s forage maize harvest could well be one of the earliest on record. In contrast to cereals, maize is a deep rooting crop.
Both the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) and Irish Grain Growers’ Group (IGGG) have noted the year-on-year increase in 2026 grain prices.
National Ploughing Championships
The 2026 National Ploughing Championships culminated on a high yesterday (Thursday, September 17) for Wexford and Donegal.
Early autumn should be used as a priority period to soil test on tillage farms after a difficult growing year, Teagasc has advised.
Horse ploughing took centre stage on Day 2 of the National Ploughing Championships at Screggan in Co Offaly.
UK November 2026 feed wheat future fell by £2.75/t (1.3%) to £209.75 for the trading period that ended: Friday, September 11.
Ploughing conditions were excellent on Day One of the 2026 National Championships. It all made for a fair day of competition.
Harvest 2026 is coming to an end and by common consent it has been another challenging year for Irish tillage.
The Irish Grain Growers Group (IGGG) is calling on government to commit to a €40M support package for tillage in Budget 2027.
Breaks crops, such as spring beans and winter oilseed rape, are now the real financial drivers on Irish tillage farms.
Following significant preparatory work, Teagasc officially launched its ‘Soil Cycle’ project at the organisation’s 2026 Crops Forum.
UK November 2026 future wheat prices dipped slightly for the trading week that ended on Friday, September 4.
The 2026 Teagasc Crops Forum event was marked by confirmation that the new winter barley planting season is underway.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has fully recommended seven varieties of winter wheat for 2026/2027.
Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) tolerance is the overarching trait that defines the 2027 recommended grouping of winter barley options.
Weather permitting, South Co Antrim dairy farmer, Robert Duncan, will be harvesting forage maize within a fortnight.
According to Teagasc, early action on the part of growers is key to preventing rat’s tail fescue from becoming established on tillage farms.
Forage maize could well be the tillage success story of 2026. A September harvest is now very much on the cards.
Assuming a decent harvest next year, the prospects for Irish oilseed rape crops in 2027 remain extremely buoyant.
The coming weeks will provide a key window to control problem weeds that could otherwise create headaches in autumn-drilled cereal crops.
Pig/Poultry
The amount of phosphorus finishing pigs require in their diets is the subject of research underway in Northern Ireland.
Grass
One very significant impact of the 2026 drought now becoming apparent is the significant growth of dock populations in all grassland areas.
