Lloyd Jones
Lloyd Jones
WHEN son Stuart announces it is time to start rolling our grass it is usually the first sign of spring at Hall Farm.
But this year no more than two hours into the task the heavens opened and brought proceedings to an abrupt halt. The rain was heavier than we have had for a long time but one positive outcome was that it highlighted where we had a couple of blocked drains.
On the arable ground the winter oats still look superb and certainly havent suffered from reduced seed rates last autumn. Much of the winter wheat is starting to suffer from wet feet and would certainly benefit from some sun and dry weather. As yet we havent been able to apply any fertiliser to winter cereals and are patiently waiting for ground to dry out before any nitrogen is applied.
Bryce has started his spring crop walking routine and says our early sown wheat will soon need growth regulators. Plant populations are 140-250 plants/sq m reflecting the lower seed rates used on early sown crops and were aiming for 600-700 tillers/sq m. Two fields still need herbicides and will receive an ipu/dff mix with Eagle (amidosulfuron) added where cleavers are a problem.
The pesticide tax may not be in this years budget, but I fear it will be back. The governments Environmental Audit Committee openly criticised the decision to drop the tax and we must continue to make every effort to prove good practice. Here, our sprayers have just had a full service and MOT, Simon who joined us last year is doing his PA 1 and once he has passed that, both he and Stuart will go for their PA 2s.
With modulation and more money earmarked for Countryside Stewardship, Bryce, our agronomist, has lost no time in thinking how the scheme may fit in here. Apparently our hedges could become wildlife corridors between woods neighbouring the farm. During the next few weeks we will give this some serious thought.
Stuart (right) and Lloyd Jones had just started rolling grass at Hall Farm when it started to pour. Land is now as wet as it has been all winter on the west Shropshire farm.