Latest news with #Co.Kilkenny
Agriland
02-08-2025
- Climate
- Agriland
Co Kilkenny Tillage Farmer Enjoys Strong Start to the 2025 Cereal Harvest
Co. Kilkenny tillage farmer, Edward Delahunty, has enjoyed an encouraging start to the 2025 cereal harvest. This week he has cut a crop of Integral winter barley, which is yielding just over 4.2t/ac at 15% dry matter. Delahunty grows a mix of winter barley, spring barley, and gluten free oats. Fodder beet and forage maize are also key to the cropping rotation followed on the farm. Integral is a six-row variety with Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV)-tolerance. 'The barley was sown out on October 6 into a perfect seed bed and it has been a good news story from that point through to final harvest. 'The crop got the rain when it was needed, with the sunshine and heat available at the right times as well. 'We have had the driest spring on record, which meant that disease levels were very low throughout the growing season. 'We yield-map the ground as the harvest progresses and all the trailers are weighed. So we know the yields we are getting almost in real time," Delahunty told Agriland. He is also pleased with the high yields of high quality straw currently. 'We will make a mix of round and square bales depending on the location of the straw. 'I had applied for the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM). But given the tremendous condition of crops at the present time, I will probably bale everything this year – even the oat straw. 'There is a tremendous demand for straw at the present time, for both bedding and feeding purposes," Delahunty said. The Co. Kilkenny farmer added that the fact that disease levels in crops have been so low this year has been adding to its quality. "Straw values now make a real contribution to the margins generated by all cereal enterprises," he said. One key factor that has made life a little easier this year is the weather. 'This year, all field work was carried out at the correct time and without any stress placed on farmers looking to get on with the work. 'And it's an absolute pleasure to be out in the fields right now cutting crops that are in almost perfect condition. 'Too often in the past, growers have found themselves fighting a combination of bad weather and poor ground conditions. It's so rewarding when, every now and then, everything goes to plan," Delahunty added. He has walked all his cereal crops over recent days and was surprised at how quickly they are coming through to harvest. 'There's a week's good weather in the offing. And based on what I am looking at in the fields right now, I would be confident enough that we will be cutting spring barley well before the end of August. 'I am aware that some spring crops got caught by the drought during May. Here in Kilkenny we got rain when it was required. As a result, spring barley crops look promising enough. But we won't know the true story until we get through to the actual harvest," he said. Maximising the returns that can be generated from his crops is also a priority for Delahunty - which is one reason why he also focuses on gluten-free oats. "All the spring barley is grown to a malting standard. If it doesn't meet this requirement then it can always be sold for feed. 'The additional price bonuses available for these value-added crops make a real difference when it comes to either making a profit or a loss from a cereal enterprise. 'And given the current state of world grain markets, Irish tillage farmers need all the incentives they can avail of," he said. According to Delahunty, traditionally cereal growers have been prices takers, however, the opportunity to produce value-added crops - such as gluten-free oats and malting barley - delivers an opportunity for tillage farmers to gain a much needed foothold in more premium markets. He is always keen to boost crop yields, and one way he dos this is with the use of slurries and animal manures. 'I have used pig slurry at a number of locations across the farm. And the positive difference it is making to final crop yields is immense admittedly, there are a number of factors coming into play here - the distance that slurry has to be transported in the first instance being one of them. 'However, given good ground conditions, the use of an umbilical system means that large volumes of slurry can be spread within a very short space of time. 'Putting more slurry out on to tillage ground makes sense from every perspective. In the first instance, animal manures are extremely valuable fertiliser sources. 'And spreading them on tillage ground is helping livestock farmers to fully comply with the various nitrates and water quality regulations. It all adds up to a win-win story for farming as a whole," Delahunty added. But at the same time, he is always very aware of the environmental challenges facing all farmers at the present time and believes it is vitally important that the role of tillage in helping to deliver a lower carbon footprint for agriculture as a whole is now fully recognised. Although the initial results from the 2025 harvest have been positive for Delahunty, he has sounded a warning about the outlook for tillage farmers this year. Over the last three successive seasons, the price that tillage farmers have received for their grains has remained static. However, their input costs have continued to rise. 'Tillage farmer are also conscious that farm gate prices across all the other sectors of farming have never been higher. 'The figures are not adding up. Tillage has been under immense economic pressure for the last three years. 'Growers are not in a position where they can invest in the businesses they have right now, never mind expand the scale of their operations," he said. Delahunty believes is calling on the government to commit to supporting tillage on a consistent and constructive basis. 'Budget 2026 gives government an opportunity to kick start this process," he said.
Irish Independent
02-08-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Over 900 properties in Wexford now under accommodation payment scheme
Wicklow Wexford TD, Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin, has said that the number is a significant rise in the number of properties being awarded payments under the scheme for Ukrainians in County Wexford. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin said it is very concerning at a time of rising rents and an ongoing housing crisis. The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) is a tax-free monthly financial contribution of €600 available to landlords who provide housing for people who arrived in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive. 'There are now 941 properties in receipt of payments under the ARP in County Wexford. We have the 7th highest figure in the state - doubling that of neighbouring Co. Wicklow; almost doubling Co. Carlow and more than three times that of Co. Kilkenny. 'This is an extremely significant rise when you consider the small number of properties that are available to rent in Wexford at present' said Deputy Ó Súilleabháin. Deputy Ó Súilleabháin further said the scheme has had negative impacts on those who are trying to secure housing. 'The failure of the government to recognise the impact of this scheme on the private rental sector is outrageous, particularly given soaring rents and the fact that we are in the middle of such a severe housing crisis. The figures revealed in a Parliamentary question to Sinn Féin show an increase in every county, and an overall rise of 3,125, in the number of properties being awarded ARP payments between January and July of this year.
Agriland
14-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Forage maize crops ‘well through the plastic at this stage'
Early sown forage maize crops are a month ahead of this time last year, according to a prominent Co. Kilkenny-based agricultural contractor. Edward Delahunty told Agriland that this is the specifically the case for maize grown under plastic. He said: 'The crops are well through the plastic at this stage. They have established well and are now growing strongly, thanks to the current warm and dry conditions.' The Co. Kilkenny grower is quick to claim that using plastic adds significantly to the cost of growing maize. 'It's an investment worth making,' he stressed. 'The additional heat created around the freshly planted seeds helps to boost germination rates. 'The plastic also acts to retain moisture around the newly germinated seedlings. And, again this helps to improves growth rates at the all-important early development stage of the crop.' Delahunty noted, at that stage, most of the work entailed in growing the crops is completed. 'It's now a case of waiting to see what the harvest will bring,' he said. The tremendous start to the 2025 maize growing season is raising hopes of a September harvest date for many crops. The Kilkenny based contractor and farmer also grows maize without the use of plastic. And here again, the news is positive. 'The crops are well established at this stage. They will receive a herbicide over the coming days,' he said. 'Maize grown without the use of plastic will also benefit from an application of foliar nitrogen and trace elements. 'And, again, this issue will be addressed over the coming days.' Demand for forage maize Meanwhile demand for forage maize continues to grow at an exponential rate. 'We can't keep up with demand,' said Delahunty. 'Even farmers who would normally have enough grass silage to get them through the winter are using maize. 'They recognise its value as a valuable energy source for stock. Maize now represents an essential component of most buffer feeds.' Recent years have seen the breeding of maize varieties that are specifically suited to the Irish climate, a process that is continuing. Maize is also seen as a sump for large quantities of farmyard manures and slurries. Another perceived advantage of growing maize crops under Irish conditions is the minimal disease threat they encounter. Significantly, Delahunty told Agriland that moisture stress is not an issue within any of his maize crops at the present time. Met Éireann is predicting no significant rain in the forecast until at least the beginning of the week commencing Monday, May 26.
