Blogs
North: Pigeons needs a map for large oilseed rape crops
November has passed like a scene in the Bill Murray film Groundhog Day with every day being a repeat of the last one, dull, dry and still. This makes your friendly agronomist look a fool as every week he declares...
South - Unseasonably mild weather brings disease
The key observation concerning all crops this autumn has been the prolonged unseasonably mild conditions. We've had enough rain to get full germination now in all the cloddy, baked-out backward areas, but it doesn't look as if there was enough...
West: Big problem with volunteer OSR
Torque Talk.jpg Stephen Harrison West: Big problem with volunteer OSR By Stephen Harrison on November 14, 2011 1:09 PM | No Comments Justin Hayward once sang: "my life will be forever autumn" and this is certainly how things feel in the South West at the moment. Crop growth has carried on
North: Monitor oilseed rape for slugs
This weekend saw a couple of glorious sunny days. However, with the mercury dropping below zero overnight I guess this doesn't really qualify as a late Scottish summer. Most growers have finished combining, but there is a considerable...
Exports boost results for record oilseed rape crop
In what the company describes as a challenging and surprising marketing season, Gleadell’s harvest oilseed rape pool has returned £352.50/tonne ex-farm to growers after commission and before bonuses.
North: Oilseed rape drilling well underway
Yields from this harvest have been the most variable for a long time across all crops. The moisture retentive soils have produced some sensational yields whilst those on thin or light land have been understandably down on output, although perhaps not...
East: Monitor oilseed rape for slug activity
With harvest progressing well, and the new season rapidly approaching, now is a good time to look at the state of the soil in terms of nutrient content, pH and structure. Soil testing may be time consuming, but the...
West: Excellent conditions for blackgrass control
There will be a mixed response on farms to this week's rain. Those who have finished harvest will be glad of it to help with stubble cultivations, but growers with crops still to cut will not be as happy. Oilseed rape...
UK rapeseed exports off to a good start
Oilseed rape exports are leaving the UK in an Armada of boats heading for Germany, France and Poland, among other EU destinations. Record rape yields here are helping to make up for an anticipated overall shortfall in production compared with likely demand across the EU.
West: Septoria and rusts threaten wheats
Rainfall over the past couple of weeks has been localised, with heavy showers for some and nothing elsewhere. The Severn Vale had just 7.5mm of rain in March and nothing so far in April. In the drier areas, particularly on thin...
