Six activities for northern arable farmers to consider in March

Crop Progress

Crops are looking generally well across the North region, where it has been surprisingly dry at the time of writing towards the end of February.

Fertiliser spreaders have been out and about, while some growers started drilling spring barley. I do have some concerns over early fertiliser applications encouraging big early plant growth and potentially causing more of a disease issue.

Generally, there’s been lots of activity happening in fields in February, although with some concerns over moisture retention, some have been holding off on preparing land for potatoes.

Adam’s agronomy tips for March

1. Finish off grassweed control programmes in wheat

Unfortunately, this spring there will be a fair number of fields that will need further grassweed control interventions, particularly where top-ups were missed because of the weather in the autumn or not getting on at all with residual herbicides. Early drilled crops will also likely require further sprays.

On the plus side, there have been some good opportunities in February to get on with grassweed control, with some warmer days and a little bit of moisture encouraging plant growth. That’s good because targeting grassweeds when they are small is likely to bring best results.

In March the priority remains to get on with a contact-acting grassweed herbicide as soon as possible when there is growth. Options include Pacifica Plus (mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron + amidosulfuron) and Atlantis Star (mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron + thiencarbazone).

Pacifica Plus can be used at the higher rate of 0.5 L/ha from 1 March, when targeting bromes, while Atlantis Star at 0.33 L/ha also contains 15g/ha of mesosulfuron.

2. Clean up stale seedbeds before spring drilling

Where spring crops are still to go in, don’t forget to take advantage of the opportunity to control grassweeds outside of the crop. When spraying off stubbles or stale seedbeds with glyphosate make sure to follow Weed Resistance Action Group guidelines to minimise the chance of resistance development, and concentrate on application to maximise efficacy.

3. Watch out for light leaf spot in oilseed rape

As stem extension starts in oilseed rape crops, continue to watch out for light leaf spot. Crops that haven’t received any fungicide at all or since the autumn will likely be most at risk, depending on varietal susceptibility.

There’s been a good uptake from agronomists and growers for our free Spotcheck service in conjunction with ADAS, which helps diagnose light leaf spot in the crop, along with other diseases, and there have been incidences coming through in samples sent in. The service remains open through to the end of March.

If you do start seeing light leaf spot in the crop, then an application of Proline (prothioconazole) and / or tebuconazole, if you also need growth regulation, will help keep the disease from moving up the stem and eventually getting onto the pods.

4. Maintain tillers in winter barley

Winter barley crops are looking really good coming out of winter, with a lot of strong tillers. Maximising yields is all about tiller retention, so controlling disease infections early with a GS30/31 spray is crucial to limit tiller abortion.

With our portfolio there are two good options – Ascra (bixafen + prothioconaozle + fluopyram) and Siltra (bixafen + prothioconazole), but you can only use Ascra once in winter barley.

That means making a choice about where to use it in the programme. Ascra is particularly strong on net blotch, with also good activity against Rhynchosporium and brown rust, which makes it also a very good option at T1 to protect those tillers.

If you’re worried about Ramularia later in the season, perhaps because of a history of it on the farm, then saving Ascra until T2, and using Siltra at T1 is an option.

5. Start thinking about T0s in winter wheat

Just as in winter barley, it’s good to walk wheat crops in March to assess disease pressure. I’m a big believer in the benefits of applying a T0, where appropriate, as it gives you some protection if weather goes against you at T1 and delays that application.

The flip side is the cost, and whether you will get a return for your investment, but I believe it will pay, particularly where yellow rust is present or a serious risk.

I’d also be looking out for eyespot in crops, along with Septoria – it’s a disease that’s often forgotten, although you probably can’t do anything about it until T1.

Where you have a yellow rust susceptible variety, tebuconazole or azoxystrobin, are likely to be the main options at T0. If you have particularly bad Septoria or eyespot at this timing, then prothioconazole could be an option.

Don’t got too early with a T0, if possible. You’re looking for it to be no longer than three weeks ahead of T1 ideally, otherwise you risk having to come back and spray again before T1 or pull T1 sprays before they should ideally be applied with all the problems that then causes.

6. Consider PCN risk in potatoes

Soil sampling for potato cyst nematodes should have been completed by now, although there is still time if a new field has been selected at late notice. Consider the results and/or field history to understand risk. If it is high risk, do you need to grow potatoes in that field?

Velum Prime (fluopyram) is a good option to use.

One of the advantages of Velum Prime is it is a low rate liquid nematicide, which can be applied either in-furrow at planting, or broadcast sprayed and then incorporated.