Most oilseed rape crops have been sprayed off with Roundup Ultimate (glyphosate), and those which are very uneven will be sprayed next week with Quad (diquat) when 90% of the seed in the middle third of the raceme is brown.
Timing will be critical to make sure that the later maturing seed is at the correct stage and that there is no loss from the early maturing pods.
Winter wheats are at the cheesy ripe stage (GS80) and some second crops are showing signs of take-all, accentuated by the dry, hot weather. Sartorial lesions are now obvious where treatments were not correctly timed, but it is too late to make economic applications.
Winter barleys are maturing fast and will be harvested in the next week.The light chalky soils are desperately dry and rain will be most welcome for grain-filling, albeit too late for winter barley and perhaps spring barley.
Make sure proper hygiene standards are adopted to clean and disinfect grain stores against mites and beetles that can greatly affect the quality and saleability of crops. Please note that grain stores should be treated at least six weeks before the grain is brought into the store.
Thoughts are turning to next year's plantings and the vast array of varieties available, old and new.
A winter wheat of great interest this year is Gallant, a Group 1 variety, which the millers seem to like; so it may be pertinent to try a small acreage somewhere to see how it performs.
Otherwise it's best to stick to tried and tested varieties that suit your farm, as buyers are sometimes very fickle and change their mind at the last moment. Remember last year's introduction of Viscount winter wheat?
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