DEKALB OSR

"Post-harvest counts show the combination of hybrid varieties like DK Expansion which establish aggressively, a phosphite-based seed dressing, well-placed fertiliser and good, moist-preserving seedbeds give us the 10-15 plants/m2 spring populations we’re after from sowing rates of 24-30 seeds/m2."

"DEKALB pod shatter resistance is one of the first things we look for in a variety. It gives us the extra confidence to hold off on harvesting to bring-in the biggest crop without worrying that a lot of seed could wind-up on the floor."

"Like last year, our current crop is all DK Exalte. As well as particular speed of autumn and spring growth and disease resistance, we like it because it was virtually untouched by one of the worst hail storms in recent memory 10 days ahead of harvest in 2016; a storm which bleached white the entire area of another leading hybrid growing alongside it in the same field."

"By drilling reliable, fast-developing hybrids like DK Extrovert early into decent moisture and well-fissured soils with a nice manure mulch we can be sure of getting our crops away strongly enough to survive all the things that attack them. This means were not tempted to add extra seed for the slugs or the pigeons so we’re not getting in the way of the crops’ ability to produce the most productive canopies in seasons where pest pressures are lower than normal."

"Varieties that take off rapidly after sowing and grow away robustly in the spring are critical on our heavy land. Last year our 70ha of DK Exalte with a single field of DK Imperial CL averaged 5.1t/ha to earn a gross margin of £1170/ha and margin after all costs of £720/ha."