Every year brings it’s own difficulties in farming and the Spring of 2013 is no exception with very cold conditions making germination and emergence of cereals very slow, leading to poor plant stands in certain crops. Where this is the case, consider applying K2 or Ceraide at 1 litre per hectare to reduce apical dominance and promote tillering.

With little or no crop rotation since the closure of Irish Sugar in 2005, continuous cereals are the norm here in Galway and this brings it’s own problems such as Annual Meadow Grass which can reduce crop yield and make combining difficult especially in a wet harvest. There are two herbicides that can be used to control AMG in Spring Cereals and they are Hussar (150 grams per hectare) and IPU ( 1 Litre per hectare). Please note that the best control of AMG is at the 2 leaf stage. If the weed has tillered it makes control very difficult.

Remember these two products cannot be used on oats, do not over-lap when spraying as this will lead to severe stunting of the barley or wheat and always read the label to make sure that the product is approved for use on the given crop.  

Contact Ronan Carr Agri Manager on 091 – 797116 or email rcarr@flynnsoflackagh.ie for further information or a quotation.