WHEAT GROWER CHALLENGE
WHEAT GROWER CHALLENGE
A thorough knowledge of
crops and use of
appropriate inputs is the
winning recipe in the
farmers weekly/PBIC Seeds
Wheat Grower Challenge.
Peter Grimshaw reports
Finalists hard to separate
BOTH finalists in the competition have won praise from the judging panel, farmers weeklys Charles Abel, Geoff Hall of PBIC/Monsanto and Brendan OConnor of ADAS.
Deciding which of the two, one from East Yorkshire the other from the Scottish Borders, should win was particularly hard, given their dissimilar management needs.
Winner David Hinchliffes untiring attention to detail and confidence in what he does at Hinchliffe Farms, Rawcliffe Bridge, East Yorks is especially notable, says Mr Hall.
"He understands his wheat crop completely. Field walking is a part of his life; and his BASIS qualifications combined with intimate knowledge and experience of his farm allow him to fine-tune inputs."
In spite of a seriously delayed sowing programme last autumn and waterlogging for much of winter and spring, Mr Hinchliffes well tailored management produced outstanding crops as harvest approached.
He made careful cuts in fungicide doses appropriate to the season, given the relatively reduced disease pressure.
Runner-up David Fuller-Shapcott from Kelso followed a full treatment programme throughout and his crops going into harvest looked very clean.
Leeds-based Mr OConnor says that given the very difficult conditions it was fortunate for everyone, including Challenge finalists, that well-spaced wet and dry periods throughout the season allowed crops to catch up.
"Most people would say their crops improved as the season went on, with prospects of yields much higher than they expected in spring. Recent sunshine has been good news for some crops, and many have improved substantially, but only those which rooted well. Sunshine cant produce yield if roots cant find water."
It is pleasing to note that both finalists are strongly focused on growing for their specific markets, says PBIC cereals product manager John Howie. "This is a primary aim of the challenge."