Direct Drilling Delivers for Winter Wheat, but Costs Remain a Concern

Harvest 2026 was unusually early, finishing in mid-August. Darren Allen, a Signpost tillage farmer from Ballymaloe Farm in Co Cork, reported reduced yields due to drought and a shortened growing season.

Allan experimented with direct drilling methods in winter wheat, comparing the results to traditional ploughing and one-pass cultivation. He used home-saved seed as a control, while two blocks were sown earlier using an Erth Panbuster and Weaving drill.

The yields were very close to expected: 3.93t/ac for the control group, 3.97t/ac for the min-tilled system, and 4.20t/ac for direct-drilled wheat. This translates to a €42/ac savings with min-till and an €72/ac saving with direct drilling, along with a 7% yield increase.

Allen noted that these results are not representative of all soil types and require further research. He also expressed concern about the profitability of winter wheat, given average yields of 4t/ac and increasing costs.