SEEDTECH 2025 OPEN DAYS SPOTLIGHT ON INNOVATION, RESEARCH & HARVEST 2026 PLANNING

Seedtech, Ireland’s leading cereal seed technology company, welcomed over 300 farmers and merchants to its annual Open Days in Faithlegg, Co. Waterford. The event offered a firsthand look at innovative crop research and future-focused solutions for Irish tillage farming.

Field Walks & Expert Insights

Attendees explored over 300 trial plots during guided walks gaining key agronomy insights. Seedtech’s wider site features over 4,000 plots, including wheat, barley, oats, beans, oilseed rape, along with distilling wheat, winter malting barley, and hybrid rye.

Talks were led by Seedtech’s Technical Director, Dr. Tim O'Donovan and Trials Manager Denis Dunne, alongside guest experts:

Neil Fuller, independent agronomist, demonstrated how cover crops contribute to carbon capture and improved soil biology.
Dr. Steffen Beuch, guest speaker, presented on future oat traits like mildew resistance and yield stability.

Looking Toward Harvest 2026

Dr. O'Donovan outlined trends shaping the 2026 season, emphasizing profitability, market volatility, and strategic crop rotation and selection. After challenging 2023 and 2024 harvests for Irish tillage, promising early signs for 2025 may signal a turnaround, though global instability remains a concern. From post-Covid disruptions to U.S. trade policy shifts continue to influence agricultural markets. These developments may refocus Irish and EU attention on domestic self-sufficiency, particularly in homegrown protein sources.

“Profitability remains king when choosing crops for 2026,” he noted. “We can’t control grain prices, but we can use data and agronomy to make smarter, lower-risk decisions.”

Spring beans supported by the €10 million DAFM Protein Aid Scheme continue to be a strong choice, with winter oilseed rape and oats also offering reliable returns.

Seedtech’s “Big Bets” & Variety Ratings

On two of Seedtech’s newer varieties for 2025, Tim states “SY Canyon offers outstanding yield and grain quality with all the positive attributes of a hybrid barley. Champion continues to set the standard for yield amongst the recommended list winter wheat varieties with excellent septoria resistance.

To support variety selection, Seedtech developed a rating system built on four pillars:

YIELD SECURE – Proven performers like BELFRY, HUSKY, GRAHAM, LYNX, and rising stars such as SY CANYON, LG MERMAID, and KWS JOYAU, that deliver consistent returns across seasons and sites.
N+ ADVANTAGE – Varieties that lower nitrogen input costs and environmental impact, including LYNX beans, KWS TAYO rye, and early-drilled AURELIA oilseed rape.
SUSTAINABLE CROPS – Varieties that reduce input needs through disease resistance or cropping strategy. Examples include LAUREATE barley, LYNX beans, and break crops that improve first wheat yields.
VIRUS TOLERANT – Varieties with genetic resistance to BYDV in barley (e.g., KWS JOYAU, ORCADE) and TuYV in oilseed rape, mitigating risks from early drilling and reducing yield losses.

Research That Delivers

Seedtech continues to run extensive fungicide-free trials and results are translated into clear, farmer-friendly guides for informed decision-making on crops and inputs.

“Our goal is to reduce risk and increase profitability through practical, science-based innovation rooted in Irish conditions,” said Dr. O’Donovan.