But patience is required as although these crops don't look very pretty at the moment, I think they will be OK.
This patchy emergence is made all the more frustrating as seed-beds are generally good.
Thoughts are already turning to how we can tweak cultivation methods and timing as necessary in future autumns in order to conserve moisture.
Slugs have been an issue in places since the rain arrived. It is Important to protect the aforementioned wheat seed that is emerging but is lacking in vigour.
Dry conditions have limited the effectiveness of stale seed-beds, and one fears we are already on the back foot in respect to grassweeds. Blackgrass emergence so far has been variable, but there are some fields with significant populations already evident.
The effectiveness of pre-emergence treatments in the dry conditions is still being assessed. Very few post-emergence treatments have been applied as yet, due to variable crop growth stages, and variable weed emergence.
Winter rape crops are certainly more pleasing to look at than they were this time last autumn. The most forward crops are at the eight to 10 leaf stage and have received a fungicide with plant growth regulator activity. Large individual plants can give a false impression of populations and some crops which look too thick aren't actually too bad.
Very little phoma has been found, but it will undoubtedly be on the way. We are expecting to treat 10% of plants for phoma.
Winter bean planting has started, mainly on heavier ground where conditions are relatively good. Various methods are being used to establish the crop, but remember to leave a level and not too cloddy surface so pre-emergence herbicides can work effectively.
The economics of spring barley look less than exciting, so gross margin budgets will be prepared over the winter so final decisions can be made on spring cropping.
Leave a comment
What a user pic? Get a Gravatar!