Bayer 365

Crop Progress

We’ve only about 10mm of rain in many parts of southern Scotland since March, we desperately need some rain. There is now a noticeable difference between wheat drilled in September, which put some good roots down before the winter deluge started, and those drilled in October or later. The earlier drilled ones are clinging on better, while the later ones are beginning to struggle.

The weather has also been warmer than usual for Scotland as well as more sunny, with temperatures into the low 20s in May. That said, crops are not dying off yet, and there are still some with real potential, although it has been a challenging season for everyone.

Craig’s agronomy tips for June and July

1. Ear sprays in wheat might be earlier than usual for Scotland

2. Monitor or Hutton Periods for blight in potatoes

3. Keep an eye out for grassweeds in cereals

4. Late is better for OSR desiccation with Roundup

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Crop Progress

We’ve had about 12mm of rain in the North since mid-March, and while the earlier drilled wheats on heavier land are hanging on, it’s a salvage job on some of the later drilled crops, which are fast moving into survival mode, dropping tillers.

Winter barley generally looks fine from a distance, but I wonder whether the yield will be there at harvest, while some of the spring barley drilled after mid-March is about 10cm tall, with huge gaps in fields and you have to question whether they are going to make it. When growers are ripping out spring crops, sometimes following a failed winter crop, it’s pretty disastrous – the only positive is that at least it will hopefully allow a decent entry into a wheat crop next autumn.

Sean’s agronomy tips for June and July

1. Decide on T3 strategy

2. See how the season develops for further spring barley treatments

3. Begin blight programmes in potatoes

4. Watch out for weed seed shedding early

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Crop Progress

After less than 5mm of rain in May following the dry April crops are all over the place in the west. The light land wheats, in particular, are dying on their feet and these, along with all crops, desperately need some rain soon. The last fungicides are being applied to spring barley crops – those that found moisture when drilled don’t look too bad despite the dry.

Gareth’s agronomy tips for June and July

1. Keep an eye on the weather forecast as you decide on T3 plans

2. Look out for Hutton Criteria breaches in potato crops

3. Don’t go too early with OSR desiccation

4. Rogue wheat crops to make start on next year’s grassweed control

5. Wait for active growth for weed control in maize

6. Consider signing up for a free one-year trial of Climate FieldView 

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Crop Progress

It couldn’t have got much worse – a prolonged spring drought on the back of late establishment into generally poor conditions. This season’s crops don’t have much resilience with, in the main, restricted rooting capacity unable to cope with peak demand in April and May with virtually no rainfall. Crops that looked reasonable for the year in late May have started to go backwards quickly, and current forecast offer very little hope for rain as we head into June. So for many growers it is a pretty desperate situation.

Sam’s agronomy tips for June and July

1. Manage wheat crops on an individual basis

2. Next season starts now for grassweed control

3. No room for complacency with late blight in potatoes

4. Keep water volumes up if spraying for aphids in sugar beet 

5. Balance efficacy with crop safety for weed control in maize

6. Consider signing up for a free trial of Climate FieldView

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Crop Progress

Two incredibly dry months means we are desperate for rain, as I write this at the beginning of June. Most winter wheat crops – and there aren’t that many in Lincolnshire – have had their flag leaf (T2) fungicides. Heavier land crops are hanging on, but light land ones are struggling, as are some spring crops.

Darren’s agronomy tips for June and July

1. Decide how much further protection wheat crops need

2. Assess whether your spring cereals are going to make it?

3. Watch out for aphids and leaf miners in sugar beet

4. Continue or begin blight programmes in potatoes

5. Watch out for Bruchid beetles in peas and beans

6. Consider using Climate FieldView for analysing harvest data and more

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Crop Progress

We’ve had very little rain in May, and some crops were showing signs of stress with flag leaf curling in midday sun and temperatures of 27C in late May. Currently, there are very low levels of Septoria at the base of crops, but yellow rust is still an issue in places.

As I write on 1 June I don’t think the potential has been lost yet from most of these wheat crops, but we do need rain soon. Last year we had over 100mm of rain in June, which meant Septoria came in late, but also contributed to the higher yields some growers achieved in this area.

Richard’s agronomy tips for June and July

1. Decide how much to invest in ear sprays

2. Finish any remaining T2 sprays in spring barley

3. Time OSR desiccation correctly

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