Agricultural Science Teachers

1. Agricultural Science Teachers Presentation Oilseed Rape Maize Geraldine Hynes B.Agr.Sc. H.D.B.S. Teagasc Drystock Advisor Claremorris Co Mayo (094 ) 9371360 Dec 09

2. Oil Seed Rape Source World wide source of Vegetable oil IRL `90s 6000ha – UK for processing CAP economically unattractive `05 SFP and energy premium Energy Crop Scheme €45 /ha max National top up €80/ha max 37.5 ha + demand from local bio fuel processors grown on contract Quinns Baltinglass, Glanbia Ireland 4500 ha

3. Rotation and Soils • Free draining Med heavy Soil • Poor yield light /waterlogged soils • Ph 6.3 • OSR Brassica crop • Previously Brassicas Club root leave 4 yrs • Previously Sugar Beet Beet Cyst eelworm leave 2 yrs • Good as break crop - Deep roots improve soil structure

4. Establishment • Winter OSR Mid Aug (North) – Mid Sept (South ) • 60-80seeds/m2 30-50plants/m2 in spring • Allows sufficient light to base ,encourage branching and pod numbers • Spring OSR Mid March - April • 100-120 seeds/m2 • Fine firm level seed bed depth 1.5cm • Ploughing one pass drilling • In dry conditions to avoid compaction • Roll - firm seed bed • -Moisture retention

5. Varieties Spring OSR • HGCA List UK Home Grown Cereal Authority

6. Varieties Winter OSR

7. Lime and Fertiliser • PH 6.5 • N 130-150kgsN/ha. • P + K Soil index 3 20kgs P 35 kgs K /ha. • e.g. 400kg/ha 18 6 12 /ha and top dress post emergence with Nitrogen • 50% incorporated pre sowing / Vigorous growth • Remainder rosette to early stem stage • Sandy soils Sulphur deficiency 20kgs.ha • Boron deficiency common especially in drought conditions • Apply Bo fertilizer / Solubar spray @5-10kgs./ha.

8. Weed Control • Pre sowing • Incorporate Treflan (Chickweed/Fat Hen/Speedweel • Pre emergence Trifuralin /Butisan • (Knotgrass / Mayweeds) • Post emergence • Kerb Flow grass weeds broadleaf weeds

9. Disease • Phoma leaf spot (Canker ) 25% reduction in yield • Light leaf spot 50% • Sclerotina effects petals leaf stem 50% • Alternaria pod spot • WOSR I to 2 sprays of a fungicide to cover above • SOSR usually disease free

10. Harvesting • End July early August 90% seeds are black • 1. Desication and direct combing weedy crops • Glyophosphate products 14- 21 days pre harvest (2/3 pods are brown ) scutch/perennial weeds controled • Diquat products 7-10 days pre harvest (Bottom pods Brown /black : middle reddish brown ) • 2. Swathing done in exposed locations • 6-7weeks after the end flowering( seeds top pods turning green to brown : middle brown : lower pods dark brown ) • 7-14 days later combine seeds black • Suits exposed weed free fields

11. Yields and Returns

12. Maize • Why grow • High in energy less meals required • Could replace 50% silage • In cow increases intake by 10% • increases milk fat and protein 3- 5% • Cattle increased performance by 10% • Easy to ensile • Utilises slurry well

13. Feeding value • Protein 9%- 11 % low • Grass silage 12-15% • Introduce Maize Gradually • Feed with long fibre hay /straw if main roughage • Minerals low so balance with Maize Balancer • Maize silage spoils quicker than grass • Don’t ruffle feed face esp. in mild weather • Slightly Cheaper /ton dm €91 versus €118 grass silage

14. Site Selection • Requires 10° C • Ontario Heat units (based on max min temp e.g crop needs 2400 OHU from sowing to harvest • Ireland south of line from Dundalk to Fermoy back up to Galway • Outside this will grow but yield poor

15. Site Selection (cont`d) • Sheltered fields • Well drained good soil • Southerly Aspect so max. sunlight &temp long growing season • Good access to facilitate slurry in Spring harvesting in Autumn • Grown continuously without rotational constraints

16. Variety • Good yield • Maturity date • Lodging resistance • Disease Resistance • DAFF Recommended list

17. Sowing date • Requires 10 C • Seed sown in cold soils poor emergence and vigour • April 20 th complete May 10 th • Seed rate 105,000 to110,000/ha • 1acre packs Seed dressed soilborne diseases and bird repellent • Germination 90% • Plant population 100,000 above this • DM% is low and delay in maturing

18. Fertiliser • Cattle /Pig slurry Ploughed in Mar/Apr • should supply most of P&K • Nitrogen 80 - 225kgs /ha. • Phosphorous 10 - 70 kgs • Potash 100- 285kgs

19. Seedbed Preparations • Has deep and flat rooted plant system • Plough Deep (10 - 13 cm ) • Generally 2 passes power harrow • Firm fine tilth similar to sugar beet • Light rolling to ensure good consolation

20. Sowing • Precision drill in rows 70 -75 cm apart • at a depth of 4cm in heavy soils • 6 cm in light soils • Too deep will delay emergence • Plant at right angles to the prevailing wind to facilitate harvesting if lodged Plastic photodegradable increases temp 3.5 C in May 3.9 C in June 1.0 C in July Cost €300/ha cost effective increases dm yield increases DM content increases starch content

21. Weed Pest Control • Perennial weeds Scutch/ Docks in Autumn with Round up ?? (C `ant plough grassland between October 15 and Dec1 0(Green cover 6wks) • Pre emergence Cadou Star • Post emergence Dow Shield/Titus • Annual weeds/Broadleaf weeds • Pests not problem • Leatherjackets /wireworms after grass Yaltox • Frit fly Yellow dead central shoot Dursban

22. Harvesting • Unlike grass silage DMD does not fall rapidly DMD 68% ( range 60-72) • >30 % DM hard passes through animal • High DM crops corn cracker used • Harder to ensile Clamp consolidation • More Aerobic deterioration • 27% Grain med to hard dough stage • Top of grain starting to dimple • Harvest Sept. _ early maturing crops • Harvest Oct _ Majority varieties

23. Harvesting Cont`d • Chop length 1- 1.5cm so most grains are ruptured • By varying the no blades and speed of feed roller • Generally no additive used

24. Cost

25. Maize Versus Silage

26. Thanks For your attention