How early is too early to begin spring drilling? Well, a handful of growers across the east and south of England have already kickstarted the 2023 spring drilling campaign.

We take a look at tweets from the past few days as farmers make an eager start to sowing, and others prepare for action.

See also: Why growers should consider growing borage in 2023

Right or wrong

Suffolk arable farmers John Pawsey and Tom Jewers both commenced spring drilling on 9 Feb, with a crop of direct-drilled Laureate malting barley.

Rightly or wrongly spring drilling has commenced in IP29. #Organic Laureate malting barley from @organicwalnes going in for @organicarable Please tell me I’m not the only fool 🤞 pic.twitter.com/eOGMl0SdL6

— John Pawsey 🌞 (@hanslope) February 9, 2023

Mr Jewers is using variable seed rate application using his Weaving drill, aiming for a target plant population of 300/sq m.

Spring drilling commences today for us. Malting barley @SyngentaCropsUK Laureate being direct drilled with @Weaving_Mach GD into grazed off and frosted cover crop. One of our more variable soil types, big seed rate variation, targeting 300 plants. #precisionfarming pic.twitter.com/0l7H5CMA7F

— Tom Jewers (@cutlerstom) February 9, 2023

Good conditions

Ben Martin, who also farms in Suffolk, is surprised at how good drilling conditions are for such an early start to the season.

Really enjoyed a bit of farming today 😀 Unreal conditions for spring drilling in early Feb! pic.twitter.com/TgoLG380AN

— Ben Martin (@bencm305) February 12, 2023

Further south in Somerset, grower Richard Payne, who farms near Taunton, is preparing for action at Manor Farm.

Getting ready for action. pic.twitter.com/CflKERmikp

— Richard Payne (@richardpayne94) February 9, 2023

Farmer’s son Henry Maddever is busy in the Bateman preparing seed-beds for the season ahead at the home farm in Suffolk.

Spring drilling prep underway on a lovely evening! @Batemansprayers pic.twitter.com/Dx35AmPYK9

— Henry maddever (@Henrymaddever1) February 8, 2023

All the best to our farmers and growers in the cropping season ahead.