YIELDS UP WITH THE BEST
YIELDS UP WITH THE BEST
What a relief after last year – wheats are back on form. Gilly Johnson takes an overview in the second part of our harvest post-mortem.
ITS good news, at least for growers south of the Border. The 1998 wheat harvest in England and Wales is one of which to be proud, both in quality and quantity.
But in Scotland the situation is dire. Constant wet weather has led to the worst harvest ever; more of that in our next issue.
Despite the expected shortfall in the north, total UK wheat tonnage is likely to work out at 15.95m tonnes, according to estimates from the Dalgety Group. Thats a creditable performance, second only to the record harvest in 1996 which topped 16m tonnes.
A small proportion of the increase in the wheat tonnage can be put down to the 0.5% rise in the area planted, but most of the gain comes from better crop performance. Average yields are up, at 7.86t/ha (63cwt/acre). Dalgetys survey shows the south-west to have fared worst, with eastern regions reporting the top yields.
The high yields have surprised most crop watchers. Although wheat established well, it came through the mild winter and the warmest February on record with rather too many tillers. Then came the wet spring, which brought massive septoria infection, and at the same time preventing timely remedial spraying.
The annual MAFF disease survey suggests that the septoria epidemic could have cost growers a 3.5% yield loss, worth about £40m. If this is the case, then septoria prevented the 1998 harvest from breaking the 1996 all-time record.
The wet spring also upset growth regulator spray strategies. Many of the weaker strawed varieties suffered some lodging, and even the stiff wheats went down on fertile sites. Waterlogged roots have led to an increase in take-all. Unusually, this has been reported in first wheats as well as in second and third wheat positions, where it is more common.
Although May was generally drier, the wet, overcast June appeared to dash any lingering hopes of a reasonable crop.
"But we were wrong to be pessimistic," says Nick Hampson, who runs 1,000ha (2,500 acres) at Lockinge, Wantage, Oxfordshire. After a June rainfall of 102mm (4in), and only three days in the month without rain, his wheat yields were a pleasant surprise. Reaper came in at 8.6t/ha (70cwt/acre), despite having to pick up some from the floor. "Wed normally expect 65cwt/acre, so it did well."
Bushel weights were comfortably over the 72kg/hl required by traders. Biscuit wheat Consort produced "an excellent, good-looking sample", and when the final figures are through could outyield the Reaper. Brigadier also managed a respectable tonnage, though Mr Hampson had taken precautions and kept this yellow rust susceptible variety in a large block, to ease the logistics of fast, preventative spraying.
Although he only had a small field down to Equinox, Mr Hampson reckons this variety performed "a treat", beating the rest. Both yield and quality are good, and the stiff straw was a bonus this season. "Well be growing more next year."
After kicking off with the barley on 20 July, harvest came to a grinding halt in early September when rain stopped play, just before the last wheat field – Buster – was due to be cut. The combines did not start up again until 10 days later – a frustrating delay.
"Its ended up as one of the longest harvests weve had, because of the late rain."
Green straw
All the wheat was given a dose of the strobilurin-mix Landmark. "We have seen very green straw this year, which has given us problems as we use all the straw for livestock," says Mr Hampson.
But he isnt convinced this is solely due to the strobilurin delaying crop maturity, because some of his neighbours who didnt opt for the new chemistry have also had green straw. As far as hes concerned, its case not proven. Seasonal factors would appear to be implicated, even if strobilurin treatments are also having an effect.
Bushel weights are another matter for debate. Mr Hampsons wheat all came in with well-filled grain – unlike last year. Has bushel weight been boosted by the strobilurin chemistry?
Certainly, national specific weights are up, according to Dalgety Group figures. In the south, wheats are 1kg/hl better, while in the Midlands and north theres up to 5kg/hl improvement.
"Crops in all regions should be able to meet the feed wheat minimum standard of 72kg/hl," says Dalgetys Gary Hutchings. "In many cases theyre above the 76kg/hl requirement for third country exports."
Good bushel weights are "a real change from last year" for Stephen Thompson, who grows feed and milling wheats at Povey Farm, Sheffield. The group 1 variety Hereward went for milling with no quibbles at intake.
Mr Thompson didnt use strobilurin fungicides, but still saw better filled grains. Despite a wet harvest which kept the drier fully employed, hagberg quality was maintained.
Nationally, hagbergs are lower than last year but most group 1 and 2 samples meet the 250HFN requirement, helped by the fact that growers brought milling crops in first, before the rain started.
However, milling wheat Rialto has shown indifferent hagbergs across many regions. A return of orange blossom midge might explain some problems, but Rialtos variability is puzzling.
For all varieties, proteins are slightly lower, but this can be explained by the dilution effect from higher yields. The only exception to this is Charger, which is showing a noticeable protein shortfall, says Dalgetys Mr Hutchings.
Near Fakenham in Norfolk, Stuart Agnew grows milling wheats including late drilled Soissons after sugar beet. Both yield and quality are good, with Consort on heavy land delivering 10.25t/ha (83cwt/acre). That includes a proportion as second wheat, so Mr Agnew is well pleased. Malacca on the lighter soil did 7.8t/ha (63cwt/acre), and Soissons 7.8t/ha (63-64cwt/acre). These results are about 5% over the farms five-year average.
"But we had to spend a lot on strobilurin fungicides this year, so an increase was needed." Green straw at the bottom was noticeable, though not bad enough to slow up the combine. Mr Agnew is convinced its a result of the excellent disease control from the strobilurins, keeping the crop growing for longer and delaying die-back.
Based in Chelmsford, Essex, farm management consultant Will Gemmill, of Strutt and Parker, used strobilurins on all his wheats, opting for both Amistar and Landmark, separately and in mixtures. Hes pleased with the results, although theres a split between light and heavy soils – on the sandy land, some tonnage records have been broken. But the heavier soils did not fare as well.
"The difference between first and second wheats is marked, at about 1 tonne an acre," he says. "And even where take-all wasnt visible, the gap is significant." Mr Gemmill reckons that eyespot and fusarium could also be implicated.
Quality is good. The average thousand-grain weight of all varieties is up by 10g this year – a point to watch when using saved seed, he says. Of the milling varieties, the only disappointment was Rialto which was outdone by Charger. "Despite lodging, Charger is up there with the feed wheats at 4 tonnes an acre."
Protein content has been a touch low, even after foliar urea treatment. Abbot came in with 10.8% when the target was 11%. "With hindsight, we may have been a touch light on nitrogen because we were concerned about lodging risk."
The winners for Mr Gemmill were feed wheats Equinox and Savannah, milling varieties Charger, Malacca and Abbot, and biscuit-types Riband and Consort.
The East Anglian portfolio of Strutt and Parker includes 8,000ha (20,000 acres) as managed farms, and crop management consultancies on a further 4,000ha (10,000 acres).
Moisture
"The harvest was relatively easy – we only had to dry those wheats that were combined after the end of August," he says.
Not so in the far west, Pembrokeshire grower Meurig Raymond has had bitter experience of wet harvests – the 1997 season was one he wants to forget. This year was easier – though all the wheat still had to go through the drier, combined at an average of 21% moisture. No samples came in at below 19% moisture. Averaged over the wheats, drying costs work out at about £8/t.
Yields were up on 1997 at 8.9-9.2t/ha (72-74cwt/acre), with bushel weights acceptable at 72-75kg/hl. But the straw was green and could not be baled straight after the combine, possibly a result of using strobilurins, says Mr Raymond.
There was no lodging, thanks to judicious applications of growth regulator, but some heads were lost in violent wind mid-harvest.
Best performer was Ritmo, with Reaper, Equinox and Consort also doing well. Brigadiers yields are now trailing 0.9t/ha (7cwt/acre) behind the rest, despite the fact that yellow rust has yet to feature in Pembrokeshire.
"If wed had the sunshine, yields might have been anything up to a tonne an acre better," he says.