Teagasc launches Soil Cycle project at 2026 Crops Forum

The 2026 Teagasc Crops Forum introduced the Soil Cycle Project, a collaborative scheme to improve the use of livestock slurries on tillage crops, especially winter cereals.

Soil Cycle Project

The initiative aims to boost nutrient use efficiency and give growers practical guidance on applying organic manures for maximum nutrient value and financial return, said Teagasc crops specialist and project leader Ciaran Collins.

Kilkenny farmer Andy O’Donnell, a participant in the project, highlighted the benefits of slurries to his farm and noted that neighbouring growers can see first‑hand how organic manures can be incorporated into a tillage system.

During the forum, Cara MacAodhain of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine presented the recommended cereal variety list for 2027, stressing that poor yellow‑rust resistance in winter wheat can lead to yield losses.

Dr Louise McNamara, an entomologist at Teagasc’s Crops Research Centre in Oak Park, reported that newly introduced barley varieties show good tolerance to Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus, though early‑sown crops may still need insecticide treatment.

Teagasc economist Trevor Donnellan outlined the financial pressures on the tillage sector, noting a 47 % rise in machinery costs on tillage farms between 2020 and 2025. Researcher Jack Jameson compared conventional tillage with lower‑cost, non‑inversion cultivation, highlighting differences in profitability.

Source: Agriland. Photo: Pixabay / Pexels.