The annual Teagasc National Tillage Conference will take place next week at Lyrath Conference Centre, Kilkenny.  

A coming together of farmers, researchers, advisors and industry stakeholders, the event will be a combination of themed sessions and targeted workshops. 

Director of Teagasc, Prof. Frank O’Mara will open proceedings where attendees will hear the latest research emanating from the Teagasc Crops Research Centre, Oak Park, and insights from experts from further afield who will explore competitiveness, sustainability and the rising threat from blackgrass. 

The competitiveness of the Irish tillage sector in a global market will be the focus of session one.

Dr. Roel Jongeneel, Wageningen University and Research, will broach the dynamics of trade and impact on competitiveness, while Dr. Fiona Thorne, Agricultural Economics and Farm Surveys Department, Teagasc, will present tools currently under development which will be available to benchmark competitiveness within the Irish tillage sector. 

Presentations

The morning session will also include a 'Research Snapshots' session, with short presentations showcasing current and future research focus areas.

Topics will include the role of Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV)-tolerant varieties in reducing virus transmission, the added value potential of Irish-grown rye for food processing, surveillance and action for fighting clubroot, and decision support for chocolate spot control in beans.

Attendees will also receive an update on recently approved EU regulations supporting the use of new breeding techniques, including gene editing, in variety development. 

Grass weed management, particularly the rising threat of blackgrass, will be the focus of the final morning session.

Delegates will hear from Dr. Vijaya Bhaskar, Teagasc Oak Park, and Charlotte Morgan, Teagasc Walsh Scholar, who will address knowledge gaps on blackgrass control and origin.

John Cussans from ADAS and Adrian Joynt, a UK farmer, will share key practical lessons on effective on-farm actions. 

Workshops

In the afternoon, delegates will have the opportunity to register for up to three workshops from the listed four, with each hosting a panel with research, farmer/industry and advisory input.Workshops included are: 

Weed Clinic; 
Disease control decisions for 2026; 
Competitiveness versus Sustainability – mapping a way forward; 
New Breeding Techniques, where are we going and what can we expect? 

Speaking ahead of the Teagasc National Tillage Conference, head of Teagasc Crop Science Department, Dr. Ewen Mullins said: “While 2025 was a strong year in the field, it was a thin one on the balance sheet as good yields did not translate into improved profitability, placing additional pressure on the tillage sector.

The Teagasc National Tillage Conference on Wednesday, January 28 is a physical meeting only and pre-registration by all attendees is required to confirm attendance. Registration closes on Monday, January 26 at midnight.