Drilling Ramps up with September Rain

OSR drilling has really ramped-up across large parts of the country at the start of September as growers take as much advantage as they can of some timely rain with the return of a more Atlantic weather flow.

 “It’s been a stop/start sowing season for most,” reports Bayer seed specialist, Sarah Bebb. “Rather than getting all their crops in at once, growers have been grabbing whatever drilling opportunities they’ve had as field and moisture conditions have allowed. Most have heeded best practice advice to only sow when there is sufficient moisture.

“We’ve seen some crops going in here and there from early August in the wetter north and west, while far fewer were sown further south and east until the past week. The promise of some decent rain has made all the difference, with last minute orders for the faster-developing Dekalb varieties best suited to later drilling coming in from everywhere; even from growers who’ve taken earlier seed deliveries. “Recognising how well hybrids, in particular, can perform from September sowing, everyone seems to drilling now. More than ever, success this season will be all about moisture – preserving as much of it as possible to give crops the start they need to stay ahead of any pests.”

While CSFB levels have been building sharply in some areas, the very much lower larval levels recorded by most growers in last season’s Dekalb benchmarking study clearly bode well for later-sown crops. As do soil temperatures reported to be 2°C ahead of the same time last year in places, and growing evidence of lower larval levels and damage from sowing after the end of August.

“We are seeing emergence in very warm soils in as little as five days,” says Sarah Bebb. “So, providing they get sufficient moisture to establish well enough, highly vigorous, fast developers like DK Exsteel and DK Expectation are in the best position to out-grow all but the most intense pest pressures. “The premium here will be on getting crops to emerge all at once rather than in dribs and drabs. So, a consistent depth of sowing and good consolidation will be as important as the fast-developing hybrids our annual grower study shows invariably cope better from later sowing. The least possible soil movement will be critical in making the most of soil moisture. “The fact that the Bayer Establishment Scheme has been extended to all Dekalb varieties this season is proving a valuable confidence boost for many,” she adds.