Update Number 3 2023
Update Number 3 2023
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Cost Control for Crops 2023
The recent fall in grain prices has brought the economics of cereal growing in 2023 into sharp focus. According to the 2023 Costs and Returns Booklet breakeven yields for winter wheat, winter barley and winter oats were 9.2t/ha, 8.6t/ha and 7.6t/ha respectively. However based on the latest grain prices and the increase in many popular pesticides, the likelihood is that these will in effect be somewhat higher. Crops grown on leased or rented land are at an even higher risk.
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Spring Cereal Planting
Dry weather and good soil conditions in late February and early March has resulted in an early start to the planting of spring cereals this year. The majority of spring oats and spring wheat (including some winter varieties) are planted while a start has been made with spring barley. Most of the spring barley planted to date is on dry free draining land that would not normally be subject to flooding.
The area planted to spring barley in 2021 and 2022 was 116K ha but a significant increase is expected in 2023 due to the reduced area planted last autumn. Whether the area reaches the 140K planted in 2020 is dependent on land availability and the success of the Tillage Incentive Scheme (TIS) which is available to growers again in 2023. Many growers, particularly in the southern half of the country made a conscious decision to switch from winter barley to spring barley for 2023 following the record yields of the previous harvests and issues with BYDV in winter barley last year.
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Winter Barley
Despite difficult weather conditions winter barley crops have come through the winter reasonably well and plant counts are on target in most (not all) crops. Early planted crops are at GS 30 but the majority are still a week or more away. Disease levels are low and only reports are some rhynco in Cassia and low levels of septoria nodorum in Tardis. Most crops have received the first split of nitrogen along with phosphorous and potassium and have sufficient nitrogen to support growth till the main split later in the month. However broad leaf weed control tidy up and wild oat control has been delayed due to cold weather conditions and will be a priority as soon as weather conditions allow to reduce crop competition. Tank mixes will become complicated once we reach the timing for early disease control and plant growth regulation where required. The advice always is to separate these tasks to avoid crop damage.
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Winter Wheat
Most crops, except for those that were late drilled, are now approaching GS 30 and so the first application of fertiliser is due which will be followed shortly after that with a PGR and possibly a herbicide. With wheat prices currently in the region of €220 - €230/t growers and agronomists should be planning the most cost effective strategies for inputs this spring. The Teagasc Costs and Returns 2023 booklet predicted that a 9.2t/ha crop is needed to break even in 2023 however this was against a backdrop of a grain price of €250/t and pesticide prices increasing by 10% over 2022 prices. The reality now looks like that grain prices will be lower at harvest and some pesticide prices have increased by more than 10% this will mean that the breakeven yield for winter wheat crops, on owned land, is likely to be somewhat higher than 9.2t/ha predicted back in January.
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Winter Oilseed Rape
Most crops are now at green bud stage with an average canopy GAI of approximately 1.75 - 2.25, pigeon grazing only being reported in very backward crops. The main split of nitrogen is now due on most crops while fungicides for light leaf spot have already been applied at this stage.
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Spring Beans
An increase in the protein payment and favourable planting weather in February and early March has led to an increase in the area of beans this season. Reports from the seed trade indicate that the area planted is in the region of 14-15,000ha, however the actual figure may be higher when home saved seed is taken into account.
Some growers held off planting where drills capable of planting seed at depth were not available and will plant from now on when the threat from crows is lower. Teagasc research indicates that on average there is little yield difference between February and March planting but planting in April increased risk of a lower yield. Pre emergence weed control is the only realistic option and needs to be completed within 48 hours of planting as soil temperatures increase and seed dept is reduced. Pendimethalin based products have increased substantially in cost and many growers are choosing to use mixes with Defy to reduce costs. Further information on weed control is available here
Winter Oats
Winter oat crops have grown well over the winter despite many having been sown in less than ideal circumstances. Most crops are now approaching GS 30 which will be followed shortly after that with a PGR and a herbicide to tidy up weeds.
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