Harvest begins: At one point it looked like we could see an early start to the harvest but that passed. Combines have begun to roll in places this week but the vast majority of crops will not be ready for at least another week.

There will inevitably be occasional opportunities for those with ripe crops. The bigger question lies around what to do with straw. Once it is put into a row, the decision is made to bale and this could delay subsequent activity. Consider chopping fields based on the forecast and the interval needed for baling.

Weather is also causing other difficulties. Ear blight is becoming more apparent in spring crops and potato blight control remains a challenge.

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Weeds: Weeds have survived in all kinds of crops, both grass and broad-leaved weeds. Remember that control of all types of weeds must be helped by management.

Allowing any weed to survive adds permanently to costs. Rotation has always been a key tool for grass weed control because it provides different planting seasons and different chemical tools. Cultural control must be part of the strategy. Stubble cultivation helps encourage more weeds to grow prior to crop establishment.

More serious thought must be given to catch crops also. Getting the additional benefit of increased organic matter production adds to the benefit from this operation. And having other plants growing reduces the risk of having just a crop of volunteers to harbour aphids and BYDV.

Look around to see the impact of sterile brome, wild oats, black grass, canary grass, poppy, cleavers, etc. Chemicals need help from rotation and cultural methods.

A new level of hygiene is needed on farms to endure that machines coming on to a farm (combines, balers, etc) do not contain weeds seeds that you do not already have or that you do not want. Sources of straw and dung must be a concern and purity of seed sources is critical.

Whole crop: Low prices frequently increase interest in whole crop and crimping as sources of feed. The windows to do these are relatively tight so you need to have customers lined up. Winter barley crops have already been harvested for wholecrop.

Valuing immature crops is always difficult and it must relate in some way to the 20% or dry product. Harvesting immature crops is likely to remove much more P and K than normal harvest and this should be reflected in price. If you do clear fields early, use the opportunity to help improve your land by planting catch crops and/or spreading organic manures.

Sprayer testing: Remember that all sprayers need to be tested before 26 November next if they are to be used to apply pesticides. But, as with the other requirements, sprayers can be tested after this date also, but they must have a clear test and certificate before they can be used to apply pesticides after 26 November.