Autumn drill 2001: east/west split
28 September 2001
Autumn drill 2001: east/west split
By Tom Allen-Stevens and Andrew Blake
GROWERS in the east are furiously making the most of good drilling conditions while they last while in the west, lack of rain continues to halt progress.
The curious east/west split, of bone-dry soils in the west with sodden fields in the east, looks set to continue into the weekend.
Growers in Essex, even on the heavier soils, have got moving and are drilling night and day, reports ADAS agronomist Sara Osborne.
“Sundays forecast rain (30 September) has got them in another panic, so drills are going like mad. We only need another fortnight and drilling will be done.”
Earlier this week, many East Anglian growers were “frustrated” by the sodden conditions left after up to 80mm of rain last week.
“The land is in an appalling condition,” Stowmarket-based agronomist John Tunaley told FARMERS WEEKLY on Tuesday (25 September).
“Its the third year running that we have been in this mess. To have drains running at this time of year doesnt bode well.”
ADAS agronomist John Allsopp reports that most first wheats around Bury St Edmunds went into ideal seedbeds, but now things have changed.
“Growers are not too proud of the second wheat and barley seedbeds theyre making at the moment, but at least its in.”
Progress in the east varies, but an average of 35-40% of winter cereals have now been drilled. “Its behind where wed hoped to be,” said Mr Allsopp.
By contrast dry weather in the south-west looked set to halt progress, as fears for patchy germination in forced seed-beds grow.
“We are telling people to hold off where they cant get seed-beds down and they are just wasting diesel moving cobbles about,” said Taunton-based ADAS agronomist Matt Craig.
Patchy rain over the last few days has helped some and encourage some oilseed rape crops and early cereals through, but more is still needed.
“Even where its rained it may be moist on top, but its still very dry underneath, and thats not helping growers get a seedbed,” added Mr Craig.
Somerset-based grower Richard Payne decided to do no more until rain returned.
“We got 55 acres in but I am slightly nervous about it because the seed-beds were like talcum powder.”
He may not have to wait long: the Met Office forecasts gales and heavy rain coming in from the south-west on Sunday.
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- Weed warning for lo-till high yields, FWi, 27 September, 2001
- Early-drilling spells danger – ADAS, FWi, 10 September, 2001
- Pick seed with care – agronomists, FWi, 8 August, 2001
- FWi Arable – our arable news page
- Weather forecast for the next four days on FWi
- Seed Selector – our exclusive interactive variety guide
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