7 days ago
Tillage: Potential of hybrid rye as mainstream cereal crop in Ireland
Hybrid rye crops offer high yield potential for the future under Irish conditions, according to Teagasc research officer, Dr Richie Hackett,
The Teagasc representative said knowledge of the cereal's agronomy has improved considerably over recent years.
Since its arrival on the Irish cropping scene in 2018, the area planted under winter rye has increased slowly to approximately 3,000ha in 2024, with the bulk of these crops being hybrids – varieties claimed to be less susceptible to the fungus ergot.
To provide farmers with the confidence and tools needed to grow rye, Hackett said that extensive trial work is ongoing at Teagasc's Oak Park, with the aim of producing a guide to growing rye by 2026.
Early results of this research have been promising.
Rye yields have matched or outperformed winter wheat yields across a number of trial sites, the higher resistance to ergot claim has held true thus far, and rye crops achieved peak yield at lower nitrogen inputs per hectare than winter wheat varieties.
Hackett also highlighted the resilience of hybrid rye in comparison to other crops.
He said: 'Rye also benefits from having a longer sowing window.
"Planting can occur from the middle of September right through to the middle of November, but ideally planting should be finished by mid-October.
'Our research has shown that hybrid rye varieties typically experience much lower levels of disease pressure than winter barley or wheat.
" Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) can occur, but its effect on yield of rye is much less than that of barley even when sown early, while the crop is less inclined to be affected by take-all disease.'
Farmers wanting to grow rye in 2025/26 are being urged to find a market for the harvested grain prior to planting.
"The grain can be included in all ruminant rations. However, it is particularly suited to pig and poultry diets,' Hackett explained.
Rye can also be used directly in a number of human food options - for example, the popularity of bread made from rye flour is growing fast.
In addition, a number of Irish distillers are currently developing whiskies made from rye grains.
Rye is similar to wheat in terms of its appearance, although the seeds have a longer and more slender profile.
Large quantities of the cereal are fed to pigs in a range of European countries, including Germany, Denmark, and Poland.
Hybrid rye can also be grown as a wholecrop silage.
When used in this regard, forage quality is pretty close to that achieved from the best maize crops.
Silages made from forage rye are used to fuel anaerobic digesters across Europe.
