Winter wheat is still an option for January and February drilling, but growers are being urged to check the latest safe sowing dates for their varieties before considering spring cropping instead.

Many commonly grown winter wheat varieties can be sown until the end of January with some suitable for drilling in mid- and late February, says NIAB TAG’s head of technical services Ben Freer.

“It isn’t too late to drill winter wheat should the opportunity arise. Varieties such as KWS Santiago and JB Diego can be drilled until the end of January with some such as Conqueror suitable until mid-February. Only switch to a spring cereal, if seed is available and where the latest safe sowing date for your winter wheat variety has passed.

“In the past NIAB TAG members have reported reasonable yields from very late drillings if it was done well. The worst yields came from crops that were muddled in while trying to complete drilling within the ‘normal’ window. Those who wait until conditions improve are often rewarded with better yields,” says Mr Freer.

On many soils there are few alternatives that can out-perform even December or spring-sown winter wheat. NIAB TAG data indicates that spring malting barley (£962/ha) may achieve higher gross margins than winter wheat (£807/ha) on lighter soils if the crop reaches full potential. Spring beans are an option on heavier soils with gross margins of £108/ha over winter wheat at £730/ha and £23/ha over winter beans at £815/ha.

“In the past NIAB TAG members have reported reasonable yields from very late drillings if it was done well. The worst yields came from crops that were muddled in while trying to complete drilling within the ‘normal’ window. Those who wait until conditions improve are often rewarded with better yields.”
Ben Freer

Spring oilseed rape gross margins are £150/ha lower than winter wheat. Spring wheat yields do not significantly outyield winter varieties except when compared at mid-late sowing dates, with gross margins £106/ha lower than winter wheat on heavy soil.

With the prospect of colder weather later this month some growers may consider drilling into a frost tilth. The five-year mean yield of all varieties in NIAB TAG’s November-sown winter wheat variety trials is 8.66 t/ha.

Mr Freer says fairly good seed-beds can be made from working frosted ground, although it does require all operations to be done while the frost remains in the ground which may mean drilling at night. Inevitably seed rates will need to be increased to counter the more hostile conditions and this will mean that the seed quantity budgeted for late September/early October sowing will not stretch as far.

“A good frost is more than capable of taking heavy machinery without any obvious signs of damage and crops can establish well, although it can take its toll on the equipment. But timing is everything as once the frost starts to lift the seed-beds can quickly turn into a quagmire. This will damage the soil structure and any seed drilled in the wet is likely to rot in the ground,” warns Mr Freer.

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