A European Innovation Partnership project titled Enable Conservation Tillage (ECT), which aims to promote the wider adoption of sustainable conservation tillage systems by specifically looking at grass weed control in these systems, has been launched by Teagasc.
This five-year project is a new way of problem solving on farms by co-designing solutions with farmers to help the adoption of conservation agriculture systems on tillage farms.
At the launch, the project operational group comprised of farmer groups Claydon Group, BASE Ireland, along with industry, seed assemblers, researchers, specialist advisors and UK collaborators, discussed the challenges facing Irish farmers using conservation agriculture systems. The most significant challenge facing the adoption of such systems is grass weed control.
ACCURATE IDENTIFICATION
Michael Hennessy, head of crops knowledge transfer in Teagasc and project leader, said: “This project is extremely important for Ireland to help halt, or reverse the spread of highly damaging grass weeds such as blackgrass and other herbicide resistant grass weeds.”
Mr Hennessy said that at the core of this project was a network of 10 focus farms spread across the country’s main tillage area, which will enable local farmers to see first-hand how grass weed control can be achieved in different crop establishment systems.”
One of the first steps in controlling any weed, regardless of the control practices being utilised, is accurate identification.
“The importance of identifying these weeds and understanding their biology, that is, how and when these weeds germinate and grow, cannot be overstated,” said Jimmy Staples, ECT project advisor.
Mr Staples said that tillage farmers, whether winter or spring cropping, should regularly inspect fields to spot and identify weeds which are not being controlled in the lead up to harvest 2019.
“It is only then the farmer can prepare and carry out appropriate actions to combat the problem post-harvest,” he said.
The project will place a large emphasis on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) utilising all cultural control measures possible.
PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT
Project consultant Dr Sarah Cook from ADAS in the UK, works closely with UK farmers to overcome difficult grass weed problems in various crop establishment systems.
“The weeds you have on your farm are a result of how you farmed in the past and are your responsibility,” she said.
Ms Cook said that regardless of the crop establishment system used on farm, weeds will adapt and flourish to that system, if not managed correctly.
“Every farmer must proactively adapt their management practice over time to control these weeds, and if not, these weeds will become an issue on the farm,” she said.
