Weather

This week’s weather will help to slow down some crops, and there is some rain in the forecast. Last week’s sunshine was good for grain fill and hopefully there is more in the forecast.

Some early winter barley varieties are just around the corner from harvest. Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) tolerant varieties tend to be ready sooner than others, so keep an eye on them.

Harvest preparation

Make sure all tractors and machines are serviced ahead of the busy harvest period. A breakdown in the middle of harvest can add stress, so having machines prepared can help to reduce stress.

Have net wrap and other items in stock so that you don’t have to make a trip to the merchants or the co-op. Clean out trailers and grain stores and make sure to record any of this work or maintenance on driers.

Trailer identification

On page 35 we have the details you need on trailer identification. The Irish Grain Assurance Scheme (IGAS) now requires farmers to have trailer numbers that will be recorded on the weighbridge.

You will need to mark trailers with your IGAS number and a trailer number. So if you have three trailers they need to be numbered 1, 2 and 3.

Grass weeds

Grass weeds are now up over a lot of spring crops, so it is a good time to walk them and pull weeds. While you are out in crops, assess them for disease and management decisions made earlier in the year.

You should collect grass weed and broad-leaved weed seeds if you suspect weeds are resistant to a herbicide. Leave a small patch of weeds to go to seed.

Cover the seed heads if possible to prevent them from spreading and make sure to pull all other weeds except for those left for seed.

You need about a pint glass of seed for things like brome and a cup full of seeds for smaller weed seeds. You can post seeds in a sealed envelope to Vijaya Bhaskar at the Teagasc Crops Research Centre, Oak Park, Co Carlow.

Include your name, phone number and details about the crop and herbicide treatments if possible, with the sample. The service is confidential, but your name and number are needed to provide you with the results of the test.

Beans

There are reports of some disease creeping into spring beans. Crops are finishing flowering now in most cases.

Some have applied a second fungicide, and more are still thinking about it. If you are applying, go sooner rather than later. It’s important to remember the more fungicide that is applied the later the harvest date will be, so the cost and the benefit of a spray at this time has to be considered.

Crops have been sown earlier this year so will hopefully be ready a bit earlier, but weather becomes more difficult into September and you want to take every opportunity to harvest them at a reasonable time and moisture content.