Blogs
East: Dry weather continues to frustrate
A lack of rainfall is continuing to cause problems, especially for later drilled and second wheats. Earlier drilled cereals have generally established well and are at early tillering stages. Dry seed-beds have resulted in variable performance from residual herbicides and in some places SU...
West: Dry seed-beds causing concern
Drilling has carried on apace in the four weeks since my last entry. Concern is now mounting over dry seed-beds which are bound to hinder pre-emergence herbicide activity. Almost incessant wind has made spraying difficult and the strong aroma of...
East: Welcome rain evens crop establishment
Recent rain has evened up cereal establishment and oilseed rape growth. Where cereal drilling was stalled due to dry and hard soil conditions, the moisture has finally allowed cultivation of reasonable seed-beds. Moist, friable seed beds are ideal for...
South: Aphids numbers surge in crops
Insects are the big watch out for us here at the moment. Aphid numbers on cereals and oilseed rape are the highest for many years and we're finding the first gout fly eggs on wheat. Leaf miner is making its...
North: Slug pressure low as drilling speeds ahead
Drilling is progressing at a fantastic pace due to settled weather. Good seed-beds are being achieved with the earliest winter wheat crops now at the two- to three-leaf stage. If no insecticide seed dressing has been used, such as Deter,...
East: Stale seed beds less effective this year
We have had a very smooth drilling period with little interference from the weather. I wish the same could be said about the chemical applications.We seem to have had weeks of high winds. The fact that OSR broad-leaved weed sprays...
East: Wheels turn as the new season begins well
Volunteers slugs metaldehyde grassweeds blackgrass oilseed rape establishment flufenacet
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...
