Archive Article: 2001/08/17
A year in visits
September Variety choice, drilling date, seed rates and a review of the previous years performance are discussed.
October Crop emergence, pests and early diseases assessed.
February Nitrogen, pgr and fungicide plans laid. "With fungicides we talk in general about a programme and develop an understanding of the leeway there is during the season," says Mr Boughton.
March Timed to coincide with GS30 on wheat and barley. Fungicide strategies for specific crop situations are discussed, such as when and where to include Unix (cyprodinil) for eyespot. "We look at date of drilling, previous cropping, variety and PCR results."
Mid-May Check what is happening in the field, crop by crop. "It is the key time – early flowering on the peas, flag leaves just coming through on wheat, awns emerging on winter barley."
June Final visit to discuss ear sprays, visit the co-ops trials and identify any late season problems emerging.