It is that time of year again – for attending crop variety trial meetings. Well, it is for Dad, anyway. Yellow rust has definitely been the talk of the town, and how certain varieties have been overcome in such a high-pressure year in our neck of the woods.

I suppose the upside of yellow rust is we have the chemistry to fight fire with fire, with the aim of keeping it out of the crop to begin with.

Spray days have been aplenty, which has meant fungicide timings have been in line with growth stages – vital this year to keep yellow rust at bay.

Despite the spring drought our winter crops look like they have some potential, with wheats looking especially well, but our spring crops could be a different kettle of fish, with secondary tillers raising their heads above the parapet in the spring barleys.

Time will tell at harvest as to how problematic this will be for the malting quality.

See also: Why leafhoppers are an emerging threat to potatoes

Choosing our wheat varieties has been fun this year, with plenty of new candidates making it a juggling act to keep the number of varieties sensible, along with fulfilling soft wheat contracts and also trying some new varieties on the farms.

Straw strength has been a topic of conversation between Dad and I. Flat wheat not only slows the combines down but is detrimental to yield, so we are cautious. 

About the author

Annabel Hamilton

Annabel Hamilton farms 1,030ha of arable in the Scottish Borders with her parents. The arable area grows 65% winter and 35% spring crops. She is Basis and Facts qualified and runs a pick-your-own pumpkin patch. The farm finishes more than 300 Limousin cattle a year.  Follow Annabel on Twitter @annabelhami11

Read more articles by Annabel Hamilton

We host one of the many Agrii iFarm open days, on 24 June, which seems to grow arms and legs every year.

The arrival of a Bateman sprayer in the farmyard caused Mum to panic, thinking I had been on another spending spree. I told her not to worry, as Dad had already spent a fair whack of money on fertiliser the other week.

The Bateman’s arrival was actually for the Agrii Open Day, but I know Dad was champing at the bit to have a go in it.

Since my last article, the pumpkins have been planted, which seems unbelievable. Where has the time gone? Before we know it, harvest will be upon us – yikes!