Teagasc Crop Report
Crop Report Update Number 8 2026
Crop Report Update Number 8 2026
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Headlines
- The 2026 Teagasc Crops Forum takes place on September 10th @ 2.00pm in the Keadeen Hotel.
- Oilseed rape drilling has started in many areas but rain is needed for germination.
- Potato crops are under moisture stress with many struggling to fill market specifications.
- Planting of cover crops has been delayed due to dry conditions. Deadline for Farming for Water EIP is September 1, ACRES September 15.
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Teagasc Crops Forum 2026
The Teagasc Crops Forum takes place on Thursday September 10th @ 2.00pm in the Keadeen Hotel Newbridge, Co Kildare Eircode: W12 T925. IASIS points will be available as usual.
This years forum will look at protecting yield and improving financial resilience on tillage farms. After what has been a difficult year for tillage farmers we will look at the role of organic manures in meeting some of our fertiliser needs and we will launch the new EIP funded SoilCycle project which aims to advance the in-crop application of organic manures in winter cereals.
We will have an update from DAFM on new varieties for 2027 with a special interest in the performance of BYDV tolerant winter barley varieties, which will include some of our latest findings from trial work here in Oak Park.
Weed control in the autumn is becoming more challenging with the loss of key herbicides and so the roll of pre-emergence applications is going to become more important in years to come. We look at the some of the performance of key products on the main grass weeds.
Can establishment systems and tweaking rotations to include more first cereals improve margins on farms. If so, what is the best approach and are there other learnings for the future that we need to be aware of to protect our margins. This session will lead into a open forum on farm profitability with a panel including farmers, accountants and Teagasc experts.
Hopefully there will be something of interest to all tillage farmers and industry professionals. Hope to see you on September 10th.
Winter Oilseed Rape
Most growers, certainly in the east and south east, are waiting for significant rainfall before beginning to drill oilseed rape. At Oak Park on August 21st there is a soil moisture deficit of 94 mm which hasn't changed in the last week despite some very isolated showers.
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Potatoes
Potato crops are under significant stress where they have not received any significant rain or irrigation in the last 6-8 weeks with some early planted crops now starting to senesce. There are however some moderate to good crops especially in the north west but blight is also an issue.
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Cover Crops
With rain on the way tillage farmers will be focusing on planting cover crops in the next few days. Despite an early finish to the harvest the area planted is low so far due to dry soils.
For the Farming for Water Option 6A (Other Cropping Systems), the crop should be no later than 1 September and the area must be declared by 1 October. If you were accepted into the scheme last year, you can plant the same area again. You will be paid for the area planted.
The deadline for ACRES cover crops is 15 September.
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Fodder Beet
With forage likely to be in high demand this autumn, protecting fodder beet yield is more important than ever. Effective disease control can significantly increase root yield by maintaining the leaf canopy, allowing the crop to increase root yield well into the autumn.
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