Aiming at top spot
Aiming at top spot
A high input, high output approach is how one Norfolk contender hopes to win £1,000 in our World Class Wheat contest, writes Gilly Johnson.
TOP yield: thats the target for Norfolk grower Jack Hammond with his entry in the World Class Wheat contest. So hes chosen the variety Equinox as a first wheat after peas, and the field – a fertile, fine sandy loam with turbo-charged performance in mind.
Equinox, with its exceptionally stiff straw, can support high fertiliser inputs without going down under the weight. Mr Hammond has applied 189kg N/ha; and theres also a good supply of residual N following combine peas. "My agronomist did suggest putting on more, but flat wheat is my biggest nightmare, and our harvests tend to be late. Some years we have gone over the top."
This fear of lodged wheat explains a comprehensive, belt and braces growth regulator programme, despite the varietys stiff straw.
He hasnt skimped on agchem inputs (see table), reckoning that the yield payback will make the expense worthwhile. The Equinox has been treated to a four-spray fungicide programme, including strobs and an ear spray, together with Baytan seed dressing. Its likely to be a sound policy on this site; disease pressure has been high and when the judging team visited there was a small amount of septoria visible in the lower canopy, and some fusarium in the ears.
"With highsight, Im wondering whether we should have upped the rates against septoria, which is always our worst disease. We tend to put in a small amount with the second growth regulator, just in case we are held up. In the event there was a long gap between the first and second fungicide because of rain," says Mr Hammond. But the judges consensus was that infection levels were not enough to put yield at jeopardy.
This field at Aldborough Farms near Norwich does have some weed problems – mayweed, cleavers and meadow grass – but thankfully no blackgrass or wild oats, so the herbicide bill is not excessive.
It also requires robust cultivation. The spend on subsoiling the tramlines, discing, ploughing, combination drilling and rolling, together with seven passes of the sprayer, will be taken into account when the judges calculate the final production costs per tonne. This year the seedbed was a little too rough for Mr Hammonds liking.
Quality soil
A mid-September drilling date has suited the Equinox and the crop "looks well. If it doesnt hit at least 4t/acre, then Im giving up and taking up knitting," says Mr Hammond. And with a five-year wheat average of 9.78t/ha (3.96t/acre) over the whole farm including later drillings after roots, hes confident that this field will do considerably better. "Its all down to the quality of the soil, which is exceptionally good for this area."
Sulphur deficiency was picked up on some of the lighter land this year, and as a precaution Mr Hammond added some bittersalz treatments on the challenge field. "We didnt see any symptoms on the Equinox but thought that sulphur might be borderline."
His rotation is typical for the county, with sugar beet and malting barley taking a sizeable chunk of the 577ha (1,426 acres). Only first wheats are grown; winter barley tends to fill the second cereal slot with spring barley, vining and combining peas, dwarf beans, spring beans, potatoes, and apples taking up the remainder.
lThe World Class Wheat competition is sponsored by Advanta Seeds.