I think farmers and agronomists alike will be glad when harvest is complete and we can start afresh next season.
The recent hot, dry spell has highlighted different soil types and areas of compaction, as crops have started to burn up in patches. Subsoilers are at the ready to carry out remedial work.
The dry spring resulted in relatively low septoria pressure this year, with only small differences visible between various treatments in fungicide trials. We await results to assess the economics of programmes this season to see whether any treatments stand out.
A recent visit to TEAGASC in Ireland with a group of farmers was an eye opener, with the disease having defoliated untreated plots. Given the very high septoria pressure, their fungicides are under extreme pressure, the results providing useful pointers for us.
Crop planning meetings with clients have tried to find a balance between economics, sustainability, spreading work load, and risk management.
Tightness of winter oilseed rape rotations remains a concern, with disease issues, including verticillium wilt, and problems with controlling weeds; for example, charlock and hedge mustard. The difficulty is finding another break crop that can compete on gross margin.
We are starting to think about life without IPU and trifluralin, and feel it will be a case of "you don't know what you've got till it's gone".
Increased reliance on pre-em herbicides will be one option. There will also be more chlorotoluron used, so varietal tolerance to this chemical may be important.
When choosing autumn varieties avoid change for the sake of it. I'd also advise having some of your wheat in an orange blossom midge resistant variety.
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