Slugs and cold threaten sowings
Slugs and cold threaten sowings
DRILLING hold-ups are starting
to cause concern across the country as late sowings face colder soils and big slug populations.
Only a third of planned winter wheats around Alnwick, Northumberland have been drilled, says Mike Butcher of ADAS.
"Its the knock-on effect of the delayed harvest and I am seriously concerned. We like to see 100% done by now. The biggest problem is where ground has been ploughed. It has never dried out."
Further south the picture is patchier, according to Julian Hayes, ADAS head of arable. "We are certainly behind where we should be. Some very big farms are two-thirds to three-quarters through. Others are only a quarter to a third done. I still fail to understand why some farms dont start drilling until the combine is put away." In places delayed potato lifting has not helped, he adds.
Essex-based colleague Neil Watson estimates 70-80% of first wheats in his area are sown. "But we are more behind than normal because most people held back with their second wheats and then got stopped by the weather."
The main concern is that despite good seed-beds slugs are already grazing emerged crops. "Growers need to keep an eye on problem patches."
In Northants, where independent consultant Malcolm Harrison reckons wheat drilling is 50-60% done, slugs, especially after oilseed rape, are a serious threat. "We are watching like hawks, especially on stronger land."
In Beds, where parts had twice normal September rain, Axients Bill Barr says some smaller farms have not even begun sowing wheat. Slugs after rape are clearly a danger, but he is more concerned that in many fields grass weeds need spraying off before sowing. "Its hard to argue against drilling when conditions are right, but there is a lot of regrowth out there," he warns. *
AUTUMNFIELDWORK
• Northern harvest ongoing.
• Wheat drilling delayed.
• Slugs constant threat.