October has been wet, with 125mm of rainfall recorded. This is the third year in succession where the weather switch has been flicked from relatively dry to extremely wet during the autumn drilling period.

Thankfully, we made good progress during September, and as we head into November, we only have 14ha of winter wheat still to sow.

Once again, we have ended up reverting to ploughing and sowing with a power harrow combination drill as soil conditions became too wet for successful surface cultivations.

See also: 5 cultivation and establishment methods compared

About the author

David Fuller

David Fuller manages 3,500ha of medium sandy clays for McGregor Farms based at Coldstream, on both sides of the border. Cropping includes wheat, spring barley, winter barley and oilseed rape, spring beans and vining peas. Potatoes are farmed in collaboration with Greenvale AP.

Read more articles by David Fuller

I’m sure there are a few that will be horrified to read the words “plough” and “power harrow”, but the reality is that when conditions become less favourable this system works.

Our aim is, obviously, to minimise the need for this establishment method, but it can be the difference between successfully establishing a winter crop or not.

To mitigate against overuse of this system, we have recently purchased a 12m wide Horsch Pronto drill that will replace our ageing 8m Vaderstad Rapid.

Our aim is to have all available winter cereal fields sown in the month of September.

We will be sad to see the Rapid go as it has given us great service and established crops very well over the years.

Unfortunately, Vaderstad has not managed to produce a 12m version of the Rapid, hence the change to Horsch.

Along with increased daily output, the other main benefit of the change will be the ability to combine a starter fertiliser with the seed, aiding establishment, plant health and reducing the quantity of broadcast fertiliser required.

The challenge over the winter seems to be securing the inputs required to keep crops fed and healthy through to next harvest.

The “just in time” supply chain model seems to be broken. Only time will tell if this is a permanent situation.

Reliance on overseas production and single company manufacture leaves UK agriculture very vulnerable to global events.