Disease levels 'have remained low' within cereal crops - specialist
Disease levels within spring barley and other cereal crops are very low at the present time, according to Teagasc tillage specialist, Shay Phelan.
He added: “The yield potential of March sown cereals remains more than acceptable.
“The problem has been the impact of May’s drought on later sown crops. But it’s not all bad news. The fact that disease levels have remained low will give these crops to maximise grain fill.
Phelan also noted that there will be a return to cooler and more showery weather conditions over coming days.
“This will be further good news for previously drought-impacted crops, particularly those growing on lighter soils.”
The last week has seen many spring cereal crops receiving their kast fungicide spray of the growing season.
Meanwhile, the harvest potential of most winter cereals remains high.
Phelan said: “We are looking at an early July start to this year’s winter barley harvest. Varieties such as Joyau should be ready for the combine at that stage particularly in places like Waterford and Tipperary.”
But all of this is weather-dependent.
The Teagasc representative went on to confirm that the winter oilseed rape harvest should kick off at the end of July.
And here again, acceptable yields can be expected across the board.
“A significant number of rape crops were heavily grazed by pigeons back in the early spring,” the tillage specialist confirmed.
“But, for the most part, they seem to have rebounded well.”
Potato blight
Meanwhile, the rain of recent days has significantly boosted growth rates within main season potato crops.
“The vast majority of crops are looking well at the present time. Of equal significance is the fact that no incidences of blight have been reported by growers up to this point,” Phelan commented.
“And this is despite the fact that a warning for blight was issued last week.”
Meanwhile, Met Éireann is confirming that soil moisture deficits for moderately drained soils range from +8mm in the north to +44mm in the south.
Over the next week, some moderately or poorly drained soils in coastal counties of the west and north, and also parts of the midlands, will become saturated or waterlogged.
A potato blight warning is also in effect. Weather conditions conducive to the spread of potato blight will affect south-western, western, north-western and northern coastal counties at times over the coming days.
