Most of the talk in the yard lately has been about sheds, bedding and feed. Fair enough, with stock coming in for the winter. But out the gate the contracting side is still busy. November is when the last winter crops go in, the sprayer does its final rounds and we start planning for spring.
So this week we’re stepping away from the shed for a look at what’s happening in the fields around Foulksmills.
A good autumn for sowing in the south
Teagasc’s October crop report said winter planting was well underway in the north-east and that growers in the south were making the most of good sowing conditions. That fits what we’ve seen in Wexford. Early sowing and mild weather have given crops a strong start, and winter oilseed rape has established well in most places.
There’s one thing to watch this year. Seed merchants are reporting thousand grain weights 4–5g lower than usual. Teagasc’s advice is to read the TGW on each seed bag and calibrate the drill for every lot. Their example: winter barley at 280 seeds/m² needs about 168kg/ha at a 47g TGW, against 182kg/ha at 52g. Too thick a crop brings lodging and disease, so it pays to get that number right.
Pre-emergence spraying and the December deadline
Grass weeds are getting harder to control on a lot of tillage ground, so residual herbicides at true pre-emergence matter more than ever. Teagasc’s ideal is to spray within 24–48 hours of drilling, on a good seedbed with moisture in the soil. Those are the conditions we aim for when we’re spraying for customers.
If you’re still to spray, note this date: flufenacet products (Firebird, Navigate, Griffen, Naceto and Reliance among them) must be used by 10 December 2026. After that they’re gone, so leave enough time for the weather to cooperate.
Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) is the other worry after a mild autumn. Most winter barley sown this year has some tolerance or resistance bred in. Winter wheat and oats don’t, so they need watching. Your agronomist or Teagasc adviser can tell you the right plan for each crop and variety.
What the weather is allowing this week
Met Éireann’s farming forecast for this week is a good one for field work. High pressure should bring plenty of dry days and light winds, which means good spraying windows. Mean temperatures of roughly 6–11°C are expected, and soils will cool a bit.
Ground will still be soft in places. Well and moderately drained soils are close to field capacity, but poorly drained land is mostly saturated. Drying will be slow with light winds, so heavy, wet fields are best left until they’re fit.
What our contracting crew is at
For anyone who doesn’t know, our contracting service covers:
- Sowing of winter and spring cereals, plus maize
- Spraying, timed to suit the crop and the weather
- Ploughing and ground preparation
- Reseeding grassland
- Harvesting when the time comes
At this time of year it’s mostly drills and the sprayer. Once the last crops are in, the job is planning: which fields need ploughing over the winter, what’s going into maize next spring, and which paddocks are due a reseed. If you’d like to book something in, the sooner we hear from you the easier it is to fit you in.
Thinking about next year already?
A quick chat now about your 2027 plans, whether that’s maize, a reseed or a full sowing programme, means your work is pencilled in before the spring rush. We know the ground around here, and we’re happy to talk through what suits your farm.
WhatsApp us on 087 283 2443, email accounts@kehoefarming.com or get in touch through our contact page.
Sources: Teagasc Crop Report Update No. 9, 2026; Met Éireann Farming Forecast, 2 November 2026; Teagasc – Winter cereal recommended varieties for 2026.
