Tillage
A combination of factors are fast aligning, which will see the Irish forage maize area planted out in 2026 reach record levels.
A late start to the spring planting season is expected to encourage further growth in the area of forage maize grown in Ireland.
Late harvested fodder beet crops are yielding well, according to Co. Kilkenny grower and contractor: Edward Delahunty.
There is growing concern that the spring planting options available to tillage farmers in 2026 could prove problematic.
Opinion
A strong case can be made for forage maize to be officially considered a bona fide tillage crop; it ticks so many boxes in this regard.
Starch contents of up to 40% have been secured by forage maize crops grown in Ireland this year: these are record values.
Co Kilkenny tillage farmer, Edward Delahunty, is confirming that fodder beet will be available over the coming days at around €70/t
Starch levels of almost 40% have been confirmed in Irish maize crops ensiled over recent weeks. Meanwhile the harvest continues apace.
Maize crops yielding up to 20t/ac fresh weight were harvested yesterday (Thursday, September 11) on the farm of Thomas Salter
Weather permitting, forage maize crops grown under plastic in the Kilkenny area will be harvested next week.
There is now an almost universal expectation that forage maize crops in Northern Ireland will be harvested in about a fortnight’s time.
Record forage maize yields will be achieved in Ireland this year with the harvest kicking-off two to three weeks earlier than normal
Co Kilkenny grower, Edward Delahunty, is confirming that early sown forage maize crops are a month ahead of this time last year.
According to the Potash Development Association (PDA) forage maize crops can deliver yields of up to 50t/ha
It has been confirmed that Ambition and Prospect remain the two fully recommended forage maize varieties in Ireland for 2025.
A prominent agricultural contractor is predicting that the first forage maize crops of the year could be planted before the end of March.
Co. Down cereal grower, Allan Chambers, is confirming that his winter wheat and barley crops have received their first nitrogen application.
The area of arable land across the UK dedicated to forage maize production in 2024 increased by between 10% and 20%.
The first of this year’s forage maize crops were cut by Co Kilkenny grower and contractor, Edward Delahunty yesterday (Thursday, October 17).
The option of whole cropping winter barley – but more likely – winter wheat may well be a thought in many tillage farmers’ minds right now
N.Ireland
The impact of heat stress has been clearly identified on a Co Antrim dairy farm, courtesy of recent research work
Significant numbers of tillage farmers may well seek to grow forage crops as part of their spring planting mix in 2024.
There is now evidence that dairy farmers have used both tillage and Protein schemes to boost their overall feed self-sufficiency levels.
