Author: James O’Neill 

Lungworm infections in your herd can cause a severe and often fatal disease that is commonly called hoose. A lungworm infestation is caused by exposure of grazing animals to lungworm larvae on a pasture. The lifecycle of the lungworm is about four weeks long i.e., from the ingestion of larvae to the excretion of infective larvae by the affected animal. In the worst case, within four weeks of ingesting lungworm larvae, the cow or calf can be shedding millions of fresh larvae onto the pasture via their faeces and is most commonly seen from August to October.

Lungworm: Spotting The Early Signs

Early signs to look out for include coughing, initially after exercise and then at rest, with an increased respiratory rate. Left untreated, cattle will often lose weight, with noticeable deterioration taking place in their body condition. Dairy cattle may also experience a sudden and dramatic drop in milk yield.

Rain can disperse larvae in contaminated faeces, while warm, moist conditions keep infective larvae alive and encourage fungal growth. Larvae often make use of the fungal spore, Pilobolus (found on cattle dung), to disperse themselves on a pasture. Generally, conditions that favour the growth of pasture also favour the development of the infective larval stage L3, which is why outbreaks peak in late summer and early autumn. A dry season followed by a damp one has always encouraged outbreaks as this creates a natural immunity gap.

Treatment 

Treat infected cattle as early as possible because there may be varying degrees of infection in any one group. Levamisole (Levafas Dimond) and white drenches (Tramazole) will take out what parasites are there on the day of treatment and have no residual effect. Macrocyclic Lactones such as Ivermectin (Acomec Pour-On, Ivomec injection and Eprizero Pour-On) will give longer protection (28-120 days is typical). The product used will have a bearing on subsequent grazing management post-treatment. Calves that were heavily infected need to be closely observed for 1-2 days post-treatment.

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Author: Jack Scallan  

Early silage analysis results indicate that silage is not of the usual high quality this year. This is not surprising as grass growth and quality were poor during the spring and summer periods. Poor growth rates, low protein levels and variable energy levels in grass lead to very low milk urea levels throughout the summer. The low protein in the grass caused many cows to fall short of their peak milk production. The growth rates, protein, and energy levels in grass recovered in the autumn but grass dry matter (DM) dropped which created issues with intakes and clean out of paddocks.

Silage Analysis Results 

The preliminary silage results are showing that the dry matter is high (25 to 30%), while protein and energy are low. The digestibility (DMD) is ranging from about 65 to 70%. As a result of the low nutrient value in combination with the high DM, some animals may not get their full nutrient requirement from silage alone. Therefore, it will be necessary to give these animals some supplementation over the winter period.

Concentrate Feeding 

The level of supplementation or meal feeding will initially depend on the silage analysis but also on the stock type, body condition score (BCS), target weights, and in the case of beef stock, daily live-weight gain (DLWG) and finishing weight.

Youngstock and weanlings should receive between 1 and 2 kg of a 16% concentrate, either nuts or coarse ration that has a UFL of at least 0.95 and contain good quality ingredients, such as barley, soya bean meal, beet pulp or maize meal. Particular attention should be given to replacement heifers this year as they need to achieve a target weight of 340 to 360kg at first service, while first-time calvers should be at 540 to 560kg at calving. Bodyweight at first calving depends on breed, age, etc., and should be approximately 90% of the cow’s mature weight.

Cows usually wouldn’t need any supplementation in the dry period where silage quality is average to good. This year, meal feeding may be required. This will be dependent on silage analysis and BCS. BCS should be 3.0 at drying off and 3.25 at calving. So far this year, cows have held their condition well and it should be maintained through the dry period. If supplementation is required, then up to 2.5kg/head/day should be adequate. Ideal supplementation options are a good pre-calver concentrate or a combination of straights such as barley, oats, maize meal or soya bean meal.

Particular attention should be given to first lactation cows as they can lose condition rapidly and find it difficult to build it back up. Housing them separately from the main herd is desirable, as they can be fed extra concentrate without excessive bullying from older cows.

Forward store cattle and finishing cattle will need a very high-energy diet to reach their target weights. A concentrate with 0.98 UFL or 0.97 UFV and a crude protein of 13 to 15%, should be adequate to achieve these targets with this year’s silage.

In all cases, a good source of fresh clean water must be available to counteract the high DM in the silage. If you have any queries regarding silage and its quality or if you wish to get your silage analysed, please contact your Cooney Furlong Representative or your local branch. 

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Author: George Blackburn 

As October draws to a close, we find ourselves in a far better position from twelve months ago. This time last year the weather was a battle to say the least and the autumn drilling season proved very difficult. We also must take stock on the year that was and 2021 will be remembered as possibly one of the best harvests in living memory. From a rocky start last autumn, crops performed exceptionally well across the board with tillage farmers full of optimism once more. The holy trinity of yield, price and weather all came together to give us all a timely boost. It has reinvigorated the sector and reminded us all why it is we do what we do for a living. Farming is a risky business and feeding the world is becoming a trickier proposition for all sorts of reasons. 2021 has restored a lot of faith and it is nice to be rewarded for our efforts over the past 12 months. Next year may however prove challenging once again especially with fertiliser prices set to increase but farmers are resilient by definition and will put every effort into growing the best quality crops they can for 2022.

Winter Oilseed Rape:

The number of winter rape plantings have increased dramatically this year. Factors such as grass weed issues in cereals, record high prices for rape and a very favourable planting window have all contributed to this. Crops were sown in a timely fashion towards the end of August and early September and have established exceptionally well. Most have already been treated with a pre-emergence herbicide for weeds and a graminicide. The use of hybrid varieties has worked well in the later planting slots. The main concern for many crops at the moment is growth regulation especially in the ranker thicker crops. Aim to apply some metconazole to these crops in the next week to ten days. Pre-emergence herbicide has worked well also, with good chemical uptake in the target weeds. Crops will need to be treated with a fungicide for light leaf spot and some foliar boron when at the 4-8 true leaf stage; probably around mid-November. Crops that weren’t treated with a pre-emergence herbicide or that have grass weed issues will need to be sprayed with kerb or astrokerb when temperatures drop below 12 degrees Celsius. The use of propyzamide and aminopyralid is especially important where fields have been planted to rape to help overcome resistant grass weeds such as wild oats or sterile brome. These fields must receive kerb when temperatures and ground conditions are suitable enough. At current prices, rape looks to be the break crop of choice.

Winter Wheat:

Plantings of winter wheat have increased again on last year with a mixture of early and later sown crops. The excellent returns from wheat in 2021 and the kinder autumn have contributed to this. Again, growers have opted with the tried and tested varieties of Graham and Costello. Both have performed exceptionally well this year with some growers recording record yields. More than one field managed to break the 6-tonne barrier this year showing us that it can be done. Many growers especially on more difficult soils took advantage of favourable conditions in late September. These crops have established excellently with almost 100% germination. Crops sown in late September will be at risk of BYDV and will need an aphicide when at the 3-leaf stage and possibly a follow up treatment approximately a month later. Aphid counts are variable and we are still slightly in the dark as to the relative proportion of resistant aphids in the local population. This year has been milder than last year so far, therefore well timed aphicide applications are a must. We have transform back on the market this autumn with an autumn use label so that should be a big help with no known resistance to this product in the field as yet. The advice must be to err on the side of caution and avoid spraying with a pyrethroid insecticide until at least 3 true leaves are on crops to minimise damage to beneficial insects that feed on aphids in the target population. Later sown crops in marginal conditions will be more at risk of slug damage so growers will need to keep an eye on the emergence of these crops. It is still time enough to sow wheat if conditions allow but be mindful to increase seeding rates as the season moves on.

Winter Barley: 

Winter Barley plantings are also up as a whole, and many crops have been sown into good quality seedbeds. There is a vast choice of winter barley varieties on the market this year with LG Casting and Valerie two-rows proving popular primarily for their grain quality, with the hybrid six-row Belfry and six-row conventional Kosmos popular in more difficult fields. Joyau a six-row conventional variety with BYDV tolerance was available in limited supply last season and the few crops that were sown performed very well. As a result, there has been an increase in plantings especially in very early slots. It definitely will have a place going forward in rotations. Plant breeding rather than chemistry may be our best weapon against plant pathogens in the future so varieties with more robust genetics for disease and pest resistance will come more to the fore. As with wheat, similar advice applies for aphicide applications. Most crops were treated pre-emergence with a combination of flufenacet and DFF, and this was very important for grass weed control. Any crops not treated will need to get a post emergence treatment of tower and DFF before annual meadow grass tillers. It is essential to treat winter barley for grass as soon as possible in autumn as there is no spring treatment available anymore.

Winter Oats:

Winter oat plantings are holding steady with the two main varieties of Isabel and Husky being sown. Oats are generally not sown until after October 10^th so there is still plenty of time to plant oats if conditions allow. The above mentioned are both spring varieties planted in the winter so earlier sowing will present more problems than solutions with disease and growth regulation. Aim to plant oats at 12 stone per acre or 200 kg per hectare at this stage of the season to insure a strong plant stand. Isabel is more suited to coastal areas as it has a very good rust resistance profile. Husky is a hardier variety so will prove more suitable to inland areas where winter frost is a higher risk. Winter oats generally do not require an autumn herbicide but crops that may be in fields with annual meadow grass issues can be sprayed pre-emergence with DFF. This is more advisable with Husky than with Isabel.

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Authors: Mrs. Anne Reck & Mrs. Marguerite Furlong 

The tragic death of Philip Reck of Courtnacuddy, Enniscorthy on March 15th, 2021, has left a huge void in the lives of his beloved partner Martina, his two daughters, Aideen and Eve, his mother Anne, and brothers Eamon and Michael. He will also be sadly missed by his friends, neighbours, work colleagues at The Cooney Furlong Grain Company, and the wider agricultural community.

Early years 

Philip was born on April 1st, 1979, the third son of Peter and Anne Reck (nee Marsh) of Courtnacuddy, Enniscorthy. He was predeceased by his father Peter Reck in 2016.

He attended Courtnacuddy Primary School and completed his secondary education at the CBS., Enniscorthy. From 1997 to 1999, Philip attended Waterford Institute of Technology where he graduated with a certificate in Agricultural Science. Philip then left for Wales where he received a BSc. Hons., Degree in Agriculture and Business Studies from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. During this time, he also qualified as an IASIS Certified Agronomist. He then completed a certificate in Crop Nutrition Management, from which he was awarded ‘Student of the Year’.

While studying in Wales, he completed two consecutive harvests in the UK, during 2000 and 2001. He then travelled to Australia for the harvest, where he drove a combine harvester in Queensland and New South Wales. This was followed by a spraying season in New South Wales. At the end of that period abroad, Philip decided to return to Ireland.

Career 

It was the harvest of 2002 that Philip began working at Walter Furlong Grain Ltd. This was a time when major changes in mechanisation on tillage farms were taking place.

From 2002 onwards, Philip held several roles within the group, culminating in two high-level appointments. He was Production Manager at The Cooney Furlong Grain Company, where one of his roles was the formulation and production of 150 different fertiliser products. He also held the position of Farm Manager at Walter Furlong Grain Ltd.

It was then that his professionalism, interpersonal and organisational skills became evident, which were the essential components to the smooth operation of both companies. His positive approach to both roles and his consistent and high-quality work guaranteed the overall efficient performance of both companies and he was always willing to co-operate and listen to his work colleagues. Creative thinking and problem-solving were two skills frequently displayed by Philip in his workplace. He possessed quiet confidence when it came to all things connected to farming and soil health, insisting that every job on the farm should be carried out to the highest level of perfection. It was during this time period that he also contributed a monthly report on crops for the Arable Section in the UK’s Farmers Weekly Magazine for a period of two years.

Lasting legacy 

Outside of his work, Philip was widely known in agricultural circles for his expertise in soil science, cover crops, and cereal promotion and was always happy to share his knowledge and offer advice. He had a love for continuous research and learning and lived by the motto that “every day is a school day”.

Philip was a leader and promoter of catch crops and was someone who placed a huge emphasis on their use in cereal production. In many respects, he was ahead of the scientific research organisations in Ireland with his knowledge and deep understanding of their use and environmental benefits. By sharing his research and knowledge, he was instrumental in the ten-fold increase in catch crops sown in this country over the last 10 years.

It was his deep interest and research into soil fertility, that allowed him to help other farmers and farm advisors improve soil fertility. He pioneered the use of broad-spectrum/in-depth soil analysis in Wexford to show farmers and farm advisors their Calcium vs Magnesium ratios, while also advising them to look beyond the basic pH soil test.

Philip’s passion for cover crops and the knowledge he personally built up from his experience trialing the different cover crop species and mixtures, led the Irish Department of Agriculture to seek his advice on how they could encourage other Irish farmers to start growing these crops on their farms. This meant he could accurately advise farmers on the most suitable type of lime needed for individual soil types, and why some farms needed lime even though the pH was reading 6.5 and upwards. This led him to earn the title “The Lime King” among his friends and colleagues in BASE Ireland. He was also well known as a cover crop innovator among leading farmers and agricultural advisors, not just here in Ireland, but across the UK, Europe and America. A fantastic achievement for a great son of Courtnacuddy.

Philip also had an exceptional understanding of conservation agriculture, soil health, and regenerative farming in Ireland, and the role they play in contributing to sustainable cereal production.  This understanding and expertise have been acknowledged and respected by many of his peers in Ireland and abroad.

It was Philip’s passion for wildflowers and the benefits to biodiversity and soil health that made him aware of the massive decline in pollinating insects, especially bees, and that this balance could be redressed on arable farms by drilling grass margins and sowing “bee-friendly” native wildflower seed mixtures. He also advocated the use of native Irish wildflowers as a break crop, experimenting with seed mixes to ensure weed control, while also using low growing varieties whose matt forming roots would protect against soil erosion.

From its inception seven years ago, Philip was deeply involved with BASE Ireland, where he held the position of Chairman for two years. His great service to all his friends and colleagues in BASE Ireland is well remembered. The following tribute appeared on their Instagram Page on 16^th March 2021:

“It is never easy to speak of someone’s passing, much more one so tragic and untimely.  It is with shock and our very heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of Philip Reck, a true pioneer in farming and once our selfless leader. One whom we all held in such high regard.

Philip was a true gentleman, known for his kindness, patience, and generosity. He is remembered by us as a much-loved friend, even beyond farming. Philip’s energy, enthusiasm, and friendly nature will be sorely missed by all who had the privilege to meet him, not least by BASE Ireland.

As a group, we will strive to continue Philip’s great legacy in bringing change to farming, as a testament to the work he selflessly put in over the past seven years since our inception. “Farmers educating farmers” a direct quote from Philip himself, became the very motto and ethos at the core of our existence and the very mantra we will revert to should we ever lose sight of our goal.  Thank you for everything Philip, it was an honour to know and learn from you.”

It is hoped that Philip’s legacy for bringing sustainable change to farming and his mantra of ‘farmers educating farmers’ will never be forgotten. In memory of his all too short life, The Cooney Furlong Grain Company is currently setting up a bursary in Philip’s name with a local secondary school. The objective is to financially assist a student entering third-level agricultural education.

While the Irish Agricultural sector has experienced a huge loss with Philip’s tragic passing it fades into insignificance compared to the loss experienced by his immediate family. Philip was a devoted father to his two girls, Aideen and Eve and as a family, they regularly enjoyed bike rides, swimming, GAA, and hikes through the fields and woods with the dogs. This was an opportunity to study the life cycles of the common field plants, animals, and the ever-changing seasons. At home, he was also an avid grower of many varieties of pumpkins.

Philip and his partner Martina were truly ‘muintir na tuaithe’, people of the countryside which they both enjoyed along with their daughters. Philip’s legacy will live on in Martina’s assurance that Aideen and Eve will grow into two more ‘mna na tuaithe’ 

It is said that: if your name is held in the hearts of others you will never truly die.

A life well-lived.

Slan abhaile Philip, Guimid rath De ar d’anam dhilis