The annual Teagasc National Tillage Conference will take place on Wednesday, 28th January in the Lyrath Conference Centre, Kilkenny.
A coming together of farmers, researchers, advisors and industry stakeholders, the event will afford attendees the opportunity to engage on the key challenges and opportunities facing the Irish tillage sector through a combination of thematic sessions and targeted workshops.
Director of Teagasc, Professor Frank O’Mara will open proceedings where attendees will hear the latest research emanating from the Teagasc Crops Research Centre, Oak Park, and insights from experts from further afield who’ll explore competitiveness, sustainability and the rising threat from blackgrass.
The competitiveness of the Irish tillage sector in a global market will be the focus of session one. Dr. Roel Jongeneel, Wageningen Economic Research, Wageningen University and Research, will broach the dynamics of trade and impact on competitiveness, while Dr Fiona Thorne, Agricultural Economics and Farm Surveys Department, Teagasc, will present tools currently under development which will be available to benchmark competitiveness within the Irish tillage sector.
The morning session will also include the popular Research Snapshots session, with short presentations showcasing current and future research focus areas. Topics will include the role of BYDV-tolerant varieties in reducing virus transmission, the added value potential of Irish-grown rye for food processing, surveillance and action for fighting clubroot, and decision support for chocolate spot control in beans. Attendees will also receive an update on recently approved EU regulations supporting the use of new breeding techniques, including gene editing, in variety development.
Grass weed management, particularly the rising threat of blackgrass, will be the focus of the final morning session. Delegates will hear from Dr Vijaya Bhaskar, Teagasc Oak Park and Charlotte Morgan, Teagasc Walsh Scholar, who’ll address knowledge gaps on blackgrass control and origin. John Cussans from ADAS and Adrian Joynt a UK farmer will be sharing key practical lessons on effective on-farm actions.
In the afternoon, delegates will have the opportunity to register for up to 3 workshops from the listed four, with each hosting a panel with research, farmer/industry and advisory input. Workshops included are:
- Weed Clinic
- Disease control decisions for 2026
- Competitiveness versus Sustainability – mapping a way forward
- New Breeding Techniques, where are we going and what can we expect?
Speaking ahead of the Teagasc National Tillage Conference, Dr Ewen Mullins, Head of Teagasc Crop Science Department, said: “While 2025 was a strong year in the field, it was a thin one on the balance sheet as good yields did not translate into improved profitability, placing additional pressure on the tillage sector. Against this backdrop, the National Tillage Conference provides an important platform to share the latest research findings that are directly relevant to farmers and the wider sector.”
The Teagasc National Tillage Conference is a physical meeting only and pre-registration by all attendees is required to confirm attendance. Registration closes on Monday, 26th January at 12 midnight.
IASIS points will be available.
For more information and to register for the Teagasc National Tillage Conference, visit here: