Big Gains From PGR Trials

Are you overlooking the benefits of a more prescriptive approach to PGRs? That’s the question posed by FieldView activation specialist Ellie Borthwick-North.

BASIS and FACTS qualified Ellie, sister to Alex Borthwick of Hoe Hill Farm, Lincolnshire, has helped him put a number of trials together over recent seasons, which quickly paid dividends. A soon learned lesson from this on-farm research programme is that even small changes can make a big difference, a good example being the value of a switch in PGR strategy.

Alex Borthwick

Alex and Ellie have always gone down the ‘less more often’ approach to growth regulation but they pondered whether a flag leaf application of Terpal (mepiquat chloride + 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) could be justified in spring barley. So, they split a field for a part to be treated with a final application at 0.5 l/ha.

A treatment that cost approximately £7/ha delivered a 0.36 t/ha yield benefit. Ellie puts this down to something as simple as keeping the ear up.

Visual differences were noted but not significant between the two split field areas. There was a small height contrast and a slight colour variation but it was only when the combine went in that the extent of this came to light. It was noticeable that the straw was a better colour and this was coupled with no ear brackling. What was also evident was the smooth passage of the combine through the treated part of the field.

Simon Beddows of Coppid Farm Enterprises, Berkshire is another who has looked to refine PGR strategies. He moved to variable rate PGRs some time ago and it has proved to be particularly beneficial.

He was sure PGR rates were excessive in the poorer field areas and the move to variable rates has seen wheat field averages rise by 0.25 – 0.5 t/ha, dependent on the season. The objective was not to reduce the amount of PGR applied but to use it more wisely.

The farm has 16 different soil types from clay caps to gravel to chalk seams, and this variability is reflected in a number of fields. Simon puts the improved field performance down to better crop performance in the poorer field areas. “Crops in these poorer areas couldn’t cope with the higher rates – it was knocking the crop back,” he notes.

Both are committed farm trialists and were early adopters of Bayer’s FieldView platform. Simon was one of the farm pilots when FieldView first arrived on these shores. For Alex and Ellie their FieldView journey started when they decided to take advantage of a free trial. Since then, both have put FieldView to use for various purposes. The platform has been used to monitor weed publications and evaluate control strategies, create variable rate seed prescriptions and help manage various fungicide trials, including OSR flowering strategies.

The insight provided helped Ellie and Alex develop the ultimate in pre and post-em stacks. Along with a shift to more spring cropping black-grass is under control - so much so that black-grass populations are as low as 1-2 plants M2 at most. The monitoring continues however, Alex is dropping scouting pins where black-grass is being seen to create records of where black-grass is within fields.

The idea started after Coltsfoot started to appear on the farm. He used FieldView to track its progress in fields and then evaluate different herbicide mixes in controlling it. “Being a rhizome species, some herbicides have proved less effective in penetrating waxy leaf surfaces. We found MCPA and products like Mozaic (metsulfuron-methyl + thifensulfuron-methyl) had limited activity but when combined, and with a methlylated oil added they worked well. Glyphosate is also very effective,” he notes.

Last year Ellie joined Bayer’s FieldView team, she still helps out on the farm but also assists farmers familiarise themselves with the platform. For Ellie, FieldView takes what is possible on farm to new levels. “The efficiency with which data can be reviewed, analysed and then put to use on farm is at a different level with FieldView.

“A big advantage for me was being able to do that ahead of drilling crops for the next season. Many farmers have got ample data and start out with the intention of reviewing it before they get the drill out. But accessing and reviewing data can be tricky and time-consuming, before they know it the season is upon them. With FieldView it is minutes and data is so easily reviewed by field region, through a mapped layer or even via freehand drawing too. It is simply an incredibly powerful too,” she concludes.