Teagasc Tillage Advisory Newsletter

Welcome to the Teagasc April Tillage Advisory Newsletter. In this edition, Teagasc Crops Specialist, Shay Phelan brings us key agronomy advice for winter crops such as barley, wheat, oats and oilseed rape and shares management tips for spring crop establishments.

Winter barley

April will be a critical month for winter barley crops to maximise yield, the 5-year average of 8.66 t/ha is below what many would expect, so timing of key agronomic inputs is crucial.

Nutrition:

• Complete the main split of nitrogen, total N at Index 1 = 180 kg/ha (144 u/ac).  If you plan to go higher than this, consider a third split before growth stage (GS) 32, as barley does not use late nitrogen efficiently and needs its nitrogen working before you see the flag leaf.

• Manganese deficiency has been reported again this year and needs attention.

Fungicide:

• Teagasc suggest a three-spray program where disease levels are moderate or high. However, many of the newer varieties have relatively good disease resistance, many growers will hope to get away with two applications.

  • First spray – GS 30/31

  • Second spray – GS 39/49

• Options include: Macfare Xpro 0.8 L/ha, Siltra 0.6 L/ha, Navura 0.8-1.0 l/ha, Elatus Era 0.8 L/ha or Proline 0.4 L/ha + SDHI (e.g. Imtrex)/strob (e.g. Comet).

• Where mildew is evident, include a mildewicide.

Plant Growth Regulator:

• Aim to apply a plant growth regulator (PGR) on two row varieties between GS 32-37 for effective shortening, e.g. Terpal 1.2-1.5 L/ha, Cerone 0.5-0.7 L/ha, Meddax max 0.3-0.5 kg/ha etc.

• For six row varieties or two row varieties on very fertile sites, two applications are generally required, consider Moddus 0.2 L/ha + CCC 1.0 L/ha at GS 30/31 followed the normal timing at GS 32-37.

• Watch the weather when applying PGRs, as frost will lessen the effect of the products while also increasing the possibility of scorching. Also, avoid complicated mixes as crops can easily be damaged where there are large swings between day and night temperatures.

Winter wheat

Winter wheat will also need a lot of attention as we try to build a big and disease-free canopy in the crop to catch as much light as possible. 75% of varieties planted in 2025 are susceptible to yellow rust, so this will need to be watched.

Nitrogen:

• Complete the main nitrogen application now (before GS 32). This generally equates to half the total amount of nitrogen for the crop if a three split programme is being used and is typically in the range of 100-125 kg/ha (80-100 units/ac).

• Apply the third split at flag leaf.

PGR:

• Apply PGR by first node (GS 31).

  • Options include CCC 75% 2.0 L/ha + Adjuvant, K2 1.8 L/ha, CCC 1 L/ha + Moddus 0.2 L/ha or Meddax Max 0.2 kg/ha.

Fungicide:

Leaf 4 spray (T0):

• Despite the wet weather, there have been reports of yellow rust already in Champion mainly but also in some of the other susceptible varieties.

• Options include Tebuconazole + Pyraclostrobin

Leaf 3 spray (T1)

• Apply when 3^rd last leaf is fully emerged.

• Growth stage may not be an accurate indicator of the actual leaves present in the crop so dissecting plants and identifying the correct leaf to apply the first fungicide is critical for optimum septoria control. (See photo)

• In many crops this could still be very late April or early May before the timing is correct even after the mild spring.

  • Options: Folpet 1.5 L/ha or Sulphur e.g Thiopron +

  • (Revystar XL, Univoq, Jessico One, Ascra Xpro,  etc.)