Rainfall levels: most well to moderately-drained soils are at field capacity or just under it across the country, while poorly-drained soils are well over capacity. On Tuesday, Met Éireann reported that some areas experienced four times the normal rainfall for the time of year over the previous seven days.

The south and southeast saw the most of this rain, with 120.7mm recorded at Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford. Land is now extremely wet, with floods in some fields around the country, but the drier weather this week has given crops a chance to recover.

Friday morning looks set to see the end to freezing temperatures for now, although it will still be cold in the early part of next week. Make sure you have anti-freeze in machinery where required.

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The frost should have reduced aphid numbers and lowered the risk of barley yellow dwarf virus.

Two-crop rule: last week it looked like there was good news on the two-crop rule, as simplification rules are to go through a vote. However, new information this week suggested the two-crop rule may only become more lenient for farmers with holdings of less than 30ha, rather than farmers with a cropping area of less than 30ha.

At present, farmers with 10-30ha of crops have to plant at least two crops. We will keep you updated on this, but for now it is important to note that the two-crop rule is still in place and needs to be complied with. We will await the details of simplification rules and the votes at EU levels. See more on page 7.

Payments: it now looks like the tillage payment announced in the budget will not be paid until sometime in the new year. Keep an eye out for payments and follow up if you have not received your BISS, CRISS or ACRES payment. The Protein Payment and Straw Incorporation Measure payment are usually paid out in December and early 2026.

ITLUS: the Irish Tillage and Land Use Society will hold its Winter Conference on Thursday 4 December at the Clanard Court Hotel in Athy, Co Kildare. Speakers on the day include Teagasc’s Fiona Thorne on the financial situation and outlook on tillage farms and John Spink on the carbon footprint of Irish tillage products.

Managing director of Liffey Mills Pat Ryan will chat on markets for Irish grain.

After lunch four farmers will give their perspectives. The first of those is Kevin Rosenbohm all the way from Missouri in the United States. Andy Mahon who manages a farm in England, Will Stokes from Tipperary and Ollie Whyte from Co Dublin.

Andy Doyle will also give an update from Tillage Industry Ireland.

If you would like to attend email itlussec50@gmail.com by 5pm on Wednesday 26 November. Entry is €50 for members and €80 for non-members.