Tillage farmers are sticking to Plan A for now — with beans a hot topic

The frustration amongst tillage farmers at recent discussion group meetings is palpable. A kind, dry month of March is what was required after one of the wettest autumns on record but instead we got rain.

Plans that were made for the early part of the year are now scuppered and it’s time to reset again.

Crop choice is once again being reassessed and risk mitigation comes into play.

The announcement from DAFM of an exemption to crop diversification for 2024 is welcome, however the shortage of spring barley seed will limit the amount of barley that can be sown.

So farmers are looking for options.

The general consensus is that nothing has been lost with spring barley yet and that good sowing conditions trumps sowing date.

However, there is concern that late sown crops will result in a late harvest and this will be exacerbated if wheat, oats or beans are in the mix.

Beans are a hot topic at discussion group meetings. Everyone acknowledges that April sowing is not ideal, however there are other factors to consider.

Firstly there is the protein payment. The payment could be anything from €350-€500/ha, depending on the area sown, but the fact that it is guaranteed reduces the risk of growing the crop.

Secondly there is the price. Grain markets have been unsteady since the harvest and recent quotes for green barley of €175/t make the €250/t that is being offered for beans very attractive.

These factors plus the rotational benefits of beans are making farmers stick with ‘Plan A’, for the time being.

Tillage farmers can’t claim exclusivity over the negative effects of the recent wet weather.

Livestock farmers are forced to keep stock indoors for much longer than planned and as a result silage stocks are being seriously eroded.

The looming fodder scarcity may provide an opportunity for collaboration between tillage and livestock farmers to grow forage to replace diminished silage stocks.

Beet and maize are the most likely options but wholecrop silage could also be considered. Beet and maize have the advantage of being later sown, allowing other crops to be sown first.

A signed contract must be in place prior to the crop being sown. The contract can have as much or as little detail as both parties require but the crucial part is payment terms.

Payment terms should be agreed in advance and successful arrangements are based on a payment prior to the crop being sown, a mid season payment and a final payment upon delivery.

Another crux of the wet weather for livestock farmers has been the build up and lack of opportunities to spread slurry.

Exporting slurry from livestock farms to tillage farmers growing fodder could be a ‘win win’ for both parties.

Ciaran Collins is a Teagasc crops specialist based in Midleton, Co Cork