Latest news with #AndrewBlair
Agriland
03-05-2025
- Climate
- Agriland
Winter wheat: The drive to prevent septoria is on
The coming days will see winter wheat growers throughout Ireland push to keep septoria out of their fast-growing crops. And it is all about getting an effective fungicide application on to wheat at the all-import leaf three emergence stage. Teagasc tillage specialist, Shay Phelan, addressed the issue at a farm walk hosted by Limavady cereal grower, Andrew Blair. As part of his presentation, he dissected a wheat tiller in order to fully identify the emerging leaves and the fast-developing ear within the plant. Andrew Blair is growing Graham winter wheat this year, drilled last October at a sowing rate of 200kg/ha. But according to Shay Phelan, septoria is not the only disease threat confronting winter wheat crops at the present time. Septoria and other disease threats The Teagasc agronomist explained: 'Whatever gene is involved in the resistance against yellow rust has broken. This was recently been confirmed by the National Institute of Botany in the UK.' The varieties involved are Champion, Spearhead, Fitzroy, and Bamford. 'Graham is susceptible to yellow rust at younger growth stages. But resistance against the disease grows as the plants mature,' Phelan said. 'We don't think that Graham has been impacted by the yellow rust breakdown that has impacted other varieties. 'On the upside, the recent dry weather has helped to keep yellow rust at bay in most areas.' Where wheat yields are concerned, the Teagasc agronomist indicated that the top leaves within the crop are the most important. Attending the Limavady farm walk (l-r): Andrew Blair (host) and John Purcell, Ballyquin, Limavady 'The flag leaf accounts for 40% of overall yield, In the case of leaf 2, the figure is 25% with leaf 3 delivering 10% of total grain yield,' he added. 'This is why fungicide strategies are more important in wheat than is the case in barley. Phelan also stressed that these products must be used in a strategic manner. 'Their overuse will lead to a reduction in overall activity,' he said. 'This is why their use must coincide with those periods when they will deliver the greatest impact. 'Using the same chemical on a number of occasions during the same growing season will quickly lead to a reduction in fungicide efficiency and impact within crops. 'Making sure that all of leaf 3 receives a fungicide application is extremely relevant in this context.' An important theme of the 2024/25 growing season for winter wheat is the wide variations in growth achieved by different crops. 'This trend is noticeable within fields in the same area,' Phelan further explained. 'And this is why growers should walk individual fields and manage them on that basis.'
Agriland
02-05-2025
- Health
- Agriland
Tillage: Priorities for May Bank Holiday
Getting magnesium and manganese on to spring barley crops has been highlighted as a May Bank Holiday tillage priority by tillage specialists. Specifically, where magnesium is concerned, barley crops are seeking to push through their growth stages at an enhanced rate. However, the cool night-time temperatures that still characterise this time of the year mean that individual plants cannot source the soil's magnesium reserves quickly enough. Teagasc tillage specialist, Shay Phelan, said: 'Magnesium is a critical component of chlorophyll. Signs of deficiency show up as yellow edging on leaves. 'However, an application of Epsom salts will quickly address the issue.' Phelan attended a recent crops walk, hosted by Limavady cereal grower, Andrew Blair. The event had been hosted by the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) as a forerunner to the establishment of new farm Business Sustainability Groups (BSGs). Attending the recent crops' walk hosted by Andrew Blair, (l-r) Christian Melly, agronomist with Fane Valley, and Mark McCollum, cereal grower, Limavady Phelan also confirmed the necessity of getting a fungicide treatment on to winter barley crops at the 'awns peeping' stage. 'Many crops will be reaching this stage on their development over the coming days,' he said. Phelan said the aim is to control ramularia, which is the disease that can cause most damage to winter barley crops from now though until harvest. 'One spray application will suffice at this stage. But it has got to be timed properly,' he said. 'Repeated Teagasc trials have confirmed the rationale of a two spray fungicide programme on winter barley crops. 'The first spray will target the likes of net blotch and Rhynchosporium. After that the focus switches to ramularia control.' The Teagasc representative further explained why treating winter crops at this stage is so important. 'Unlike wheat, where yield develops in the crop canopy as the crop progresses, winter barley have crops amassed all their output potential in the tillers that have developed over recent weeks. 'The priority over the coming days is to protect the yield potential that now exists within the barley plants. 'This is why getting an effective application on to barley at the awns peeping stage is so important,' Phelan said. Significantly, the weather is set fair for the coming days. Ground conditions are already good. So there is every opportunity for tillage farmers to get on with field work in an unhindered manner. Winter barley growing on the Limavady farm of Andrew Blair Andrew Blair farms close to Limavady in Co. Derry. This year he is growing both six-row hybrid and conventional two-row winter barley varieties. His hybrid crop has received three plant growth regulator applications over recent weeks. September drilled, all his winter barleys are looking tremendously well at the present time. Andrew makes optimal use of animal manures and composts on all his cropping land.
