We are just beginning to see some signs of life in OSR crops. New root growth can be found and leaf growth will respond to any rise in temperature. Pigeon damage is mainly confined to the earlier areas where the snow was first to retreat however vigliance is required since there are more relatively small crops than usual.
Harvest 09 was a slow affair and much of the rape area was established towards the middle of September. Most of those crops have a GAI of less than 0.5 but have good root growth so still have good potential but they can't stand any further set back from pigeon damage. Most weed control was Metazachlor based and has done a satisfactory job.
Where cleavers still exist we will use Galera when conditions warm up later in March. Volunteer cereals and wild oats will be moped up with a graminicide again when warmer conditions prevail. Any early spraying will be for light leaf spot where the autumn application failed to go on. Where brome or blackgrass have not yet been treated the only treatment available from now will be a full rate graminicide when growth begins.
On the East Lothian Arable Monitor Farm an area of OSR was established behind a subsoiler with some interesting results. The stubbles had an initial pass with a Simba Express to achieve a surface tilth. The seed was then dropped in bands at 0.5M spacing behind the subsoiler legs. At the same time approx 100kg/ha DAP (18N 46P) was also band applied onto the seed. A control area had the NVZ max of 30kg N/ha broadcast after sowing and rolling. The effect of getting the fertiliser directly onto the band of seed was very marked with much faster initial growth. On late sowings this has given a stronger root with a bigger canopy.
Current weather conditions are not overly conducive to early applications of nitrogen. However we will aim to have about 60 kg N onto the smaller OSR crops by the end of the month. Don't forget Sulphur with OSR needing about 45 Kg S and cereals 20 Kg S applied by early stem extension. We need to see warmer conditions before it's necessary to rush out with nitrogen onto autumn cereals so it will probably be into early March before we top dress winter barley and wheat.
There are areas where not all of the wheat recieved an autumn herbicide. Wet weather arrived early in November and spraying opportunities diminished rapidly. On crops where annual meadowgrass is not yet tillering Chlortoluron will still give reasonable control, but where it's tillering Othello will be the preferred product. On the disease frount most desicions can wait until mid March with the exception of yellow rust. Farms in the earlier coastal areas will need to keep a close eye out for any early yellow rust activity on varieties such as Viscount, Robigus and Oakley.
The days may be getting longer but the surrounding hills still have plenty snow cover so winter is not over in this area yet!!
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