Tillage

Difficult weather

Weather has remained difficult for the completion of the harvest but there is a chance of a few fine days in succession later this week. This would help greatly and allow straw to be baled up and removed and winter oilseed rape to be planted.

Crops in the field have held up well but sprouting must be a risk from now on. Still, quality was still good this week. Where possible, balers should follow the combine from now on so as to enable fields to be cleared ASAP.

Winter oilseed rape

A portion of the crop has already been planted but much more has been held up by the late harvest or by delayed straw removal. While growers have planted up to mid September in recent years it is preferable, especially when using low seed rates, to have planting completed by the end of the first week in September. When planting later than this, especially further north, bring the seeding rate back up to 90-100 seeds/ square meter for conventional varieties.

Later planting in good land might favour the hybrid varieties like Excalibur - hybrid vigour gives more autumn growth. Seed rates for hybrids could still be held at 50-60 seeds/ square meter, even with later planting.

Drilled crops have three herbicide options.

1. Pre-emerge with Treflan (2.0-2.3 l/ha) plus Butisan S (up to 2.0 l/ha) or Butisan S alone (2.0 l/ha) - Butisan S could also be split pre and post emerge at 1.5 l/ha followed by 1.0 l/ha.

2. Post crop emergence with Butisan S at 2.5 l/ha but before the majority of the weeds come through. Both this and the pre-emerge option may need a follow up spray for grass and volunteer cereal control with graminicides like Falcon, Gallant, Fusilade, Stratos, etc.

3. Post emergence with Kerb after the three-leaf stage of the crop. This is also very good against all grass weeds but can be weak on some broad-leaved weeds.

Your crop will also need to receive some sulphur and boron in the backend and this should be applied relatively early post emergence. Both can be sprayed on if not already applied and this could be done in conjunction with either the graminicide or Kerb.

Herbicides for rape are expensive but it important to get good control of weeds during the early growth phase to enable adequate plant size prior to winter. Still, there must be some scope for savings on application rate when conditions are good for a specific product.

Winter barley

We are only a couple of weeks away from planting winter barley and possibly wheat. It is time to get seed organised. Begin to choose and order your varieties. Details of the Department's winter barley recommended list can be found on page 30. Saffron is the only new variety on the list.

Some growers have used undressed home-saved seed in recent years. This may work but it can be a huge gamble unless the seed has been tested for seedling diseases. These can rapidly destroy a crop from a small initial infection level. Only the produce of certified seed in 2006 should be considered for such use. Otherwise have seed tested and apply dressing.