Poyntzpass,
Co Down
The weather has been mixed over the past month in Down, with field work completed on an intermittent basis.
Night-time temperature has been cool, which slowed the development of Simon’s crops. This is particularly evident in his winter oilseed rape, which was quite advanced throughout the season. He intends to apply a pod sticker to the crop next week, and desiccating the week after. In a normal year, he usually applies a pod sticker and desiccant in the same spray. However, due to the crop’s good potential this year, and given the fact that there are some late branches appearing, he will allow the crop to develop further before an application of Powermax (2kg/ha).
Simon’s winter wheat sown after ploughing are brome-free. However, those which were sown using minimum tillage have high infestations of the weed.
His winter wheat is relatively clean from disease, but there are several dense patches of soft brome throughout his crops. He puts this down to an increased amount of min-tilling this year and says an application of Broadway Star in the spring herbicide mix would have helped ease the weed pressure. He has begun to hand-rogue the infected patches to minimise increases in the seed bank.
He applied a head spray to the winter wheat last Friday consisting of Proline (0.5l/ha), Zoxis (0.5l/ha) and BanKo (0.7l/ha). Around 50% of the crop is in mid flower.
His winter oat crops are looking very well but the odd patch has lodged on the headlands. So far Simon doesn’t notice a significant visual difference between the oat crops in his nitrogen timing and rate trials, as reported on last month. His spring beans are in flower and received a T1 on June 13 consisting of a chlorothalonil and cyproconazole mix. His spring oats received a second growth regulator last week of Medax Max (0.3l/ha) and are due their T2 next week when the crop is heading out.
His wild bird cover has established very well and he recently identified two nesting lapwings with three hatched chicks on his ground.
The presence of the red-listed species and some 24 other bird species which were identified by a RSPB survey is proof that environment schemes are effective, Simon says.
Croom,
Co Limerick
Crop work is largely up to date on John’s farm. Warmer temperatures over the past 10 days have been very beneficial to his spring wheat and maize but he fears heavy showers this week could lodge his winter barley.
His winter barley is still four to five weeks from harvest, somewhat later than normal. John asks if the cold temperatures in May and the start of June, combined with carryover soil nitrogen from last year is the cause.
Despite 56mm of rain having fallen on his farm since last talking to him, there are several stoney patches within fields where crops are under pressure due to moisture. By and large, however, all crops are doing quite well and well-timed showers, combined with heavy dews, are helping crop growth.
Weed control in the very last of John’s crops has been poor. Conditions were very dry at the time of planting, which led to poor control.
His winter wheat crops are still relatively clean. The crop received its head spray last week when it was 60% in flower and consisted of Prosaro (1l/ha) and magnesium trace elements (1.25kg/ha). He also applied Amistar (0.75l/ha) to around 16ha of the crop.
John’s maize had turned a pale shade of green over the last month but has responded well to the recent increase in temperatures. In the last crops to be planted, however, around 30% of the field has a problem with weed control, particularly chickweed. A mix of Wing P (4l/ha) and Stomp (1l/ha) was applied at the time of sowing but ground conditions got quite dry towards the end. John thinks the soil may have been too dry for the spray to be effective. He will decide this week if the crop needs to be treated.
It is around 45cm in height and is around two weeks behind normal due to it being sown late. He feels sowing late was an advantage, as the plastic of many early sown crops in the area was blown off during high winds in May.
The flag leaf has emerged in his spring wheat and last week received a T2 fungicide of Rubric (1.25l/ha), Pacifica (0.5kg/ha), Moddus (0.2l/ha) and a manganese trace element spray (1kg/ha).
Delvin,
Co Westmeath
Temperatures have been variable on Donal’s farm over the past four weeks; rainfall has amounted to just 29.5mm. As a result, his maize crops in particular are somewhat yellow in colour.
Donal notes how good weed control was in his maize crops this year and is sure the warmer forecasts will help improve its appearance.
Around 10% of Donal’s maize has yet to come though the plastic. Crops have been pale/yellow in colour on account of the lower than average temperatures.
He is very happy with his spring barley and says the crops which were min-tilled are in better condition than those which were sown conventionally, ie after ploughing. In some of the conventionally sown crops, the plants growing in the wheel tracks of the sowing tractor seem much stronger than those between the wheel tracks. Donal applied trace elements with its T1 spray so he isn’t convinced it is manganese related. The crop is clean however and is due its T2 spray next week. He will apply Bravo and either Protendo and Chamane or Deduce and Diamond as well as trace elements.
His spring beans are also in good condition but remain thick. The steams are quite soft, however, and there was some chocolate spot evident. The crop was sprayed with Globaztar (0.75l/ha) and Rover (1l/ha) last week. His winter oilseed rape has a lot of potential this year. He is currently searching for a secondhand oilseed rape side-knife for his combine header. His winter wheat crops are around 60% through flowering and will receive their head spray next week. He is debating whether or not to include an insecticide in the tank. While the crop of Costello is looking good, he has spotted a suspected outbreak of brown rust this week. This is very uncommon for his area.
His winter barley crops are looking promising and are getting to the stage where they are at risk of lodging during heavy downpours. He has noticed a strip of sterile brome in one headland which he will treat next season. His winter oats are also coming along well. Donal recently replaced the concave in his New Holland CX840 combine in preparation for the harvest.
Read more
Watch: what level of technology is justified when buying a fertiliser spreader?
‘2030 climate framework is nonsense without hemp’
Poyntzpass,
Co Down
The weather has been mixed over the past month in Down, with field work completed on an intermittent basis.
Night-time temperature has been cool, which slowed the development of Simon’s crops. This is particularly evident in his winter oilseed rape, which was quite advanced throughout the season. He intends to apply a pod sticker to the crop next week, and desiccating the week after. In a normal year, he usually applies a pod sticker and desiccant in the same spray. However, due to the crop’s good potential this year, and given the fact that there are some late branches appearing, he will allow the crop to develop further before an application of Powermax (2kg/ha).
Simon’s winter wheat sown after ploughing are brome-free. However, those which were sown using minimum tillage have high infestations of the weed.
His winter wheat is relatively clean from disease, but there are several dense patches of soft brome throughout his crops. He puts this down to an increased amount of min-tilling this year and says an application of Broadway Star in the spring herbicide mix would have helped ease the weed pressure. He has begun to hand-rogue the infected patches to minimise increases in the seed bank.
He applied a head spray to the winter wheat last Friday consisting of Proline (0.5l/ha), Zoxis (0.5l/ha) and BanKo (0.7l/ha). Around 50% of the crop is in mid flower.
His winter oat crops are looking very well but the odd patch has lodged on the headlands. So far Simon doesn’t notice a significant visual difference between the oat crops in his nitrogen timing and rate trials, as reported on last month. His spring beans are in flower and received a T1 on June 13 consisting of a chlorothalonil and cyproconazole mix. His spring oats received a second growth regulator last week of Medax Max (0.3l/ha) and are due their T2 next week when the crop is heading out.
His wild bird cover has established very well and he recently identified two nesting lapwings with three hatched chicks on his ground.
The presence of the red-listed species and some 24 other bird species which were identified by a RSPB survey is proof that environment schemes are effective, Simon says.
Croom,
Co Limerick
Crop work is largely up to date on John’s farm. Warmer temperatures over the past 10 days have been very beneficial to his spring wheat and maize but he fears heavy showers this week could lodge his winter barley.
His winter barley is still four to five weeks from harvest, somewhat later than normal. John asks if the cold temperatures in May and the start of June, combined with carryover soil nitrogen from last year is the cause.
Despite 56mm of rain having fallen on his farm since last talking to him, there are several stoney patches within fields where crops are under pressure due to moisture. By and large, however, all crops are doing quite well and well-timed showers, combined with heavy dews, are helping crop growth.
Weed control in the very last of John’s crops has been poor. Conditions were very dry at the time of planting, which led to poor control.
His winter wheat crops are still relatively clean. The crop received its head spray last week when it was 60% in flower and consisted of Prosaro (1l/ha) and magnesium trace elements (1.25kg/ha). He also applied Amistar (0.75l/ha) to around 16ha of the crop.
John’s maize had turned a pale shade of green over the last month but has responded well to the recent increase in temperatures. In the last crops to be planted, however, around 30% of the field has a problem with weed control, particularly chickweed. A mix of Wing P (4l/ha) and Stomp (1l/ha) was applied at the time of sowing but ground conditions got quite dry towards the end. John thinks the soil may have been too dry for the spray to be effective. He will decide this week if the crop needs to be treated.
It is around 45cm in height and is around two weeks behind normal due to it being sown late. He feels sowing late was an advantage, as the plastic of many early sown crops in the area was blown off during high winds in May.
The flag leaf has emerged in his spring wheat and last week received a T2 fungicide of Rubric (1.25l/ha), Pacifica (0.5kg/ha), Moddus (0.2l/ha) and a manganese trace element spray (1kg/ha).
Delvin,
Co Westmeath
Temperatures have been variable on Donal’s farm over the past four weeks; rainfall has amounted to just 29.5mm. As a result, his maize crops in particular are somewhat yellow in colour.
Donal notes how good weed control was in his maize crops this year and is sure the warmer forecasts will help improve its appearance.
Around 10% of Donal’s maize has yet to come though the plastic. Crops have been pale/yellow in colour on account of the lower than average temperatures.
He is very happy with his spring barley and says the crops which were min-tilled are in better condition than those which were sown conventionally, ie after ploughing. In some of the conventionally sown crops, the plants growing in the wheel tracks of the sowing tractor seem much stronger than those between the wheel tracks. Donal applied trace elements with its T1 spray so he isn’t convinced it is manganese related. The crop is clean however and is due its T2 spray next week. He will apply Bravo and either Protendo and Chamane or Deduce and Diamond as well as trace elements.
His spring beans are also in good condition but remain thick. The steams are quite soft, however, and there was some chocolate spot evident. The crop was sprayed with Globaztar (0.75l/ha) and Rover (1l/ha) last week. His winter oilseed rape has a lot of potential this year. He is currently searching for a secondhand oilseed rape side-knife for his combine header. His winter wheat crops are around 60% through flowering and will receive their head spray next week. He is debating whether or not to include an insecticide in the tank. While the crop of Costello is looking good, he has spotted a suspected outbreak of brown rust this week. This is very uncommon for his area.
His winter barley crops are looking promising and are getting to the stage where they are at risk of lodging during heavy downpours. He has noticed a strip of sterile brome in one headland which he will treat next season. His winter oats are also coming along well. Donal recently replaced the concave in his New Holland CX840 combine in preparation for the harvest.
Read more
Watch: what level of technology is justified when buying a fertiliser spreader?
‘2030 climate framework is nonsense without hemp’
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