This week, we revisit our growers in counties Meath, Cork and Derry. An enormous amount of field work was done over the past four weeks. All of the growers are now finished spring cereal planting. Earlier-sown crops have emerged and are looking well. Just a small amount of forage crops now remain to be planted.

Martin Hoste

Clonee, Co Meath

Conditions have finally settled in Meath. Higher temperatures, improved ground conditions and increased soil temperatures meant Martin has made significant progress in the fields.

Spring planting is now complete. Martin sowed his Lynx beans in two lots, 10 days apart from each other. He maintains that the later-sown beans will soon catch up with the earlier-sown crops due to better sowing conditions. The crops were sprayed with Nirvana (3.0l/ha), Lingo (1.25l/ha) and Backrow (0.3l/ha).

“By just waiting a week or two and putting crops in in good conditions, it’s amazing the way they will catch up.”

His Irena spring barley was sown at 220kg/ha, aiming to establish 400 plants/square meter. Also, 370kg/ha of 18:6:12+S has been placed with the seed and emerged crops are looking very well, explains Martin.

Martin is trialling liquid nitrogen this year supplied by Deeside Agri. He has found that using liquid N is much more accurate, but the product is heavy and can cause scorch on overlaps. If this year is a success, Martin may install liquid N tanks on his yard.

Around 230l/ha of Omex Nitroflo (26% N and 2% S) has been applied to the spring barley to bring the total N up to 150-155kg/ha. An aphicide and herbicide will be applied this week.

WOSR doing well

WOSR is in full flower and is looking exceptional Martin explains. 80l/ha (25kg N/ha) of liquid N will be applied to the crop this week in an attempt to keep the pods green for longer.

His Graham and Costello winter wheat received 230 to 240l of liquid N/ha two weeks ago to bring the total up to 206kg N/ha. Shortly after, they received a T1 spray consisting of Kantor (0.175l/ha), Ascra Xpro (1.5l/ha), Stefonil (1.0l/ha), Holdup (1.5 to 2.15l/ha), Moddus (0.25 to 0.35l/ha) and Novo Four (1.0l/ha). The crops are very clean, with just small amounts of Septoria present. “Spring barley is dependent on the weather. If we get a long dry spell they could suffer.”

Stephen Collins

Mogeely, Co Cork

Sowing conditions were severely limited due to mixed weather and heavy sea fogs in east Cork over the past month, but huge progress has been made over the past 10 days explains Stephen.

Most of the spring sowing was concentrated in a few days, which put enormous pressure on farmers in the area: “You had to make use of every minute of every day.”

All of the spring cereals are now sown. Earlier-sown crops have all emerged and are looking well. Stephen sowed his spring feed barley and malting barley at 190kg/ha after an application of 13:6:20+S, which was incorporated into the seedbed.

Early-sown crops received their top-dressing of 370kg N/ha using 27% N + 5% S when the tramlines were first visible. His earlier-sown spring wheat crop is also looking reasonably good. Aphids are present, so an aphicide will be top priority once crops are at the four-leaved stage. Fodder beet sowing is also three to four weeks behind. Stephen plans to sow Enermax beet at around 100,000 seeds/ha using his eight-row Armer Salmon drill.

Weather takes toll on WOSR

The poor spring weather appears to have taken its toll on winter oilseed rape and Stephen is disappointed with some of the crops. Flowering was uneven, which made accurate spray timings difficult. The crop was sprayed with Filan (0.45kg/ha) two weeks ago.

Conversely, Stephen is pleased with his winter barley and it is quite advanced. The crops are on a two-spray programme due to the short season. The awns are peeping and crops will receive their T2 spray in the coming days consisting of Ceriax (1.6l/ha) and Bravo (1.0l/ha).

Winter wheat received its T1 last week when the third-last leaf was fully out, which comprised of Adexar (2.0l/ha) and Bravo (1.0l/ha). Septoria levels have noticeably increased over the past week. 180kg N/ha has been applied so far and the crop will receive its balancing N this week.

“The first of the spring crops are all up and I’m very pleased with them. I’m not expecting any record-breaking crops, but given reasonable weather, they should do OK.”

Richard Kane

Limavady, Co Derry

Despite missing the worst of the poor spring weather, sowing season has still been a challenge in Derry. Ten to 15% of Richard’s heavier ground has been very slow to dry out, which held back planting: “You just had to wait on the right conditions. There was no point in rushing it.”

Spring planting is now complete. Around 60% of the spring crops were sown using contractors.

Quintus spring wheat was sown at around 200kg/ha and is destined for the feed market.

However, Richard is open to whole-cropping the crop in order to clear the field earlier for winter crops.

Lumen spring oilseed rape (SOSR) was sown at 3kg/ha. This year has been a learning curve for Richard, as he hasn’t grown the crop before. Richard sowed Planet feed and Scholar seed barley at 185 to 200kg/ha.

All crops received an application of 80l/ha of 14:14:0 (UK units) at the time of sowing.

An application of 375kg/ha of 10:12:24+S+Mn (UK units) and 250kg/ha of Sulfa CAN (26% N) was surface-broadcast shortly after sowing using his Bogballe spreader.

All of his cereal crops have received either a pre-emergence or post-emergence spray of Liberator (0.3l/ha). His SOSR received a pre-emergence herbicide of Legion (1.5l/ha).

Spring cereals will be brought up to 125 to 150kg N/ha in the coming week. Slug numbers are low, but pellets have been spread on SOSR.

Winter barley variable

Winter barley is variable, as certain crops haven’t come through the spring well.

Both winter barley and wheat received their T1 last week, consisting of Chlormequat (0.75l/ha), Moddus (0.15l/ha) and Proline (0.4l/ha). Aylora (0.8l/ha) was added to the tank for winter wheat. Both crops are relatively clean: “The cold spring has kept the disease pressure low.”

WOSR has received its only fungicide, consisting of Prosaro (1.0l/ha). Richard has cut down on insecticide usage in an attempt to promote bee populations, as his wife Leona has beehives on the farm.

“The spring crops are up and got a right amount of rain so far. There is room for optimism. The prices are up and the straw prices should be firm this year.”

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