Dry spell ideal for spuds
Dry spell ideal for spuds
Up to a month without rain
is proving a mixed blessing
on farmers weeklys root
growing barometer farms.
Andrew Blake reports
AFTER last years sodden spring, the recent dry, but often chilly, spell has proved ideal for potato planting. However, it is causing concern for sugar beet and is likely to require changes in herbicide plans.
"The dry weather has been very welcome," says Richard Hemus, whose 20ha (50 acres) of Maris Piper for processing on medium to heavy loam in Warks were all in by the end of last week – six weeks ahead of last year. He grows no beet.
In Essex, Peter Wombwell says he was fortunate to have drilled most of his sugar beet after the heavy rain on Mar 25-27, so has escaped capping. "But emergence has been incredibly slow. I dont think we shall have to re-drill anything, but we have done some for a neighbour."
For Sandy Walker, who grows potatoes and sugar beet in Shropshire, the main advantage has been with his 105ha (260 acres) of potatoes. "We have saved money on cultivations, because we have been able to cover the ground quicker. We have been breaking down dry clods instead of wet ones."
In Yorks, Catherine Thompson had most of her beet drilled into moisture by Mar 23 and her 18ha (40 acres) of Hermes potatoes done by Apr 5. "Last year was hopeless. This year conditions have been beautiful."
First time Advantage beet seed treatment seems to have helped, she adds. But an eight-day forecast last week suggested the farm would by now have seen no rain since Mar 19. "I am a bit concerned."
In Somerset, where a start on Estima for the Petherton Potato Group was expected last weekend, Chris Salisbury is glad to be out of sugar beet. "We have had no rain for at least two weeks."
Mr Hemus has not planted potatoes in April for three years, and last year did not finish until May 30. "We are well ahead, which should increase yields and give us a lot more flexibility at the end of the season. On our sort of land we need to get them out early."
For the first time, he and brother William have dispensed entirely with contractors. "We bought a second-hand Reekie de-stoner from Shropshire to allow us to plant when we want rather than having to wait. It seems quite reliable and its nice to see that its mainly de-stoning – there arent a lot of clods."
Spring ploughing only a few days before planting is the norm on the mainly clay soil. "We have found that if we plough over winter it takes much longer to dry out."
Dry weather has cut the number of bed-tiller passes needed pre-planting, he adds. "Sometimes we have needed three."
Apart from requiring herbicide adjustments, continued drought is all to the good for potatoes, he suggests. "We have enough water in our reservoir to irrigate 100 acres, and on our sort of ground we dont need much more than 125mm total." *
• Midlands
Cleavers, the main problem in potatoes at Wheatcroft Farm, could tempt Richard Hemus to try new herbicide Artist (flufenacet + metribuzin). "At the moment we shall probably stick to our standard herbicide regime which is Sencorex at 1.25kg/ha.
"Its good on oilseed rape which can be a pain at harvest. But I might use a slightly higher rate because of the longer growing season. The trouble is that with Maris Piper it has to be pre-emergence, so we may need some PDQ as well." Titus (rimsulfuron) is the normal follow up against cleavers. "But I shall possibly have a look at Artist pre-emergence."
• East
Peter Wombwell, who has never been in favour of pre-emergence sugar beet herbicides at Rectory Farm, is adopting a wait-and-see approach for his crop, which has about 80% emergence.
"I am certainly glad we didnt use a pre-em. I generally prefer to see what weve got before we hit it. At the moment I am leaving it because the crops only just up and there is not much weed either. Well use a Betanal-based programme in due course."
• West
Frosts, which "just tickled" some early potatoes, are making Sandy Walker even more cautious than usual about his post-em sugar beet herbicide mixtures at Ercall Park.
Cypermethrin against flea beetle has already been required on the one field not treated with Gaucho (imidacloprid), he says.
For the potatoes, a linuron/paraquat mix at early emergence is his normal strategy. "If we find that isnt working we may have to go for some of the more expensive chemistry later on."
• North
In a bid to keep on top of potato cyst nematode at Holme House Farm, Catherine Thompson has switched from Temik (aldicarb) to Nemathorin (fosthiazate). "I hope it will be more effective. Its not vastly more expensive and its certainly a lot cheaper than seeing the crop wiped out."
The main change on the sugar beet, where pre-emergence Pyramin (chloridazon) with 40kg/ha of liquid N is her normal practice, will be for late sown Letoya after set-aside.
"It was sown on Apr 11 and didnt have a pre-em, because it was too dry. Since then we have had a flush of pansies, but I havent dared spray because of frosts down to -2C."
Roots progress
* Good all-round start for potatoes.
* Eastern sugar beet struggling.
* Herbicide programme changes.
* Potato faith in new midlands store.
Richard & brother William Hemus have recently been granted planning permission for a 1300t fully insulated ambient-air store. The new £150,000 building, which will double as a grain store, should allow them to maximise returns from their Maris Piper for processing, 40% of which is contracted to MBM.
Potato planting on let land on our Scottish and Northern Ireland barometer farms is proceeding well. 5mm of rain breaking a 24-day dry spell was particularly welcome last week, says Londonderry-based Robert Craig.
Potato planting on let land on our Scottish and Northern Ireland barometer farms is proceeding well. 5mm of rain breaking a 24-day dry spell was particularly welcome last week, says Robert Craig in Co Londonderry.
ROOTSPROGRESS
• Good all-round start for spuds.
• Eastern sugar beet struggling.
• Herbicide programme changes.
• Potato faith in new midlands store.
Richard and brother William Hemus have recently been granted planning permission for a 1300t fully insulated ambient-air store. The new £150,000 building, which will double as a grain store, should allow them to maximise returns from their Maris Piper for processing, 40% of which is contracted to MBM.
Regional round-up
• Midlands
Cleavers, the main problem in potatoes at Wheatcroft Farm, could tempt Richard Hemus to try new herbicide Artist (flufenacet + metribuzin). "At the moment we shall probably stick to our standard herbicide regime which is Sencorex at 1.25kg/ha.
"Its good on oilseed rape which can be a pain at harvest. But I might use a slightly higher rate because of the longer growing season. The trouble is that with Maris Piper it has to be pre-emergence, so we may need some PDQ as well." Titus (rimsulfuron) is the normal follow up against cleavers. "But I shall possibly have a look at Artist pre-emergence."
• East
Peter Wombwell, who has never been in favour of pre-emergence sugar beet herbicides at Rectory Farm, is adopting a wait-and-see approach for his crop, which has about 80% emergence.
"I am certainly glad we didnt use a pre-em. I generally prefer to see what weve got before we hit it. At the moment I am leaving it because the crops only just up and there is not much weed either. Well use a Betanal-based programme in due course."
• West
Frosts, which "just tickled" some early potatoes, are making Sandy Walker even more cautious than usual about his post-em sugar beet herbicide mixtures at Ercall Park.
Cypermethrin against flea beetle has already been required on the one field not treated with Gaucho (imidacloprid), he says.
For the potatoes, a linuron/ paraquat mix at early emergence is his normal strategy. "If we find that isnt working we may have to go for some of the more expensive chemistry later on."
• North
In a bid to keep on top of potato cyst nematode at Holme House Farm, Catherine Thompson has switched from Temik (aldicarb) to Nemathorin (fosthiazate). "I hope it will be more effective. Its not vastly more expensive and its certainly a lot cheaper than seeing the crop wiped out."
The main change on the sugar beet, where pre-emergence Pyramin (chloridazon) with 40kg/ha of liquid N is her normal practice, will be for late-sown Letoya after set-aside.
"It was sown on Apr 11 and didnt have a pre-em, because it was too dry. Since then we have had a flush of pansies, but I havent dared spray because of frosts down to -2C."