Scope for limited optimism: March to date has provided some reprieve from the recent downpours but it seems that there is another lump of rain forecast for the weekend. But some growers are getting on to land in parts of the country for the moment, with spreading and ploughing taking place and there may well be some planting too.

Any significant improvement in our weather may still be a few weeks away but it will come, eventually.

The challenge we have is to be ready for it and to know what we intend to do as and from that date. Hopefully, we can still avail of a window to plant beans and spring wheat but if we can’t, what then?

The other real options other than spring barley will be spring rape, peas and oats. The latter is also best served by earlier planting but it does offer date flexibility. We need to get the required area of gluten-free oats planted as a priority but the same goes for porridge oats.

Anything that carries a price premium is a priority and that extends to malting barley. But all this depends on ground conditions being suitable.

Fertiliser: All winter crops should get some basic fertiliser when conditions permit but rape and winter barley are the priorities. At this point, it will be normal spring rates – some growers had a little nitrogen on some weeks ago to keep crops ticking over and they look the better for it now.

Land has been soaking and some fertiliser has already gone out this week. Rates might be 60-70kg N/ha on winter barley, 40-50kg on wheat and oats but rape should be fertilised to drive canopy. That could mean between 90 and 150kg N/ha depending on the canopy present.

With so much winter rain we must assume there will be very little soil N in the ground this spring. Incorporated straw is adding extra visible crop pressure in places. Also be aware that if you were marginal on pH for winter barley, rape or beans, there may be a benefit in getting some additional lime applied shortly to help nutrient utilisation.

Don’t forget P and K – application should be based on soil test results. If you feel a crop has limited potential you might consider cutting back on P and K where you are on Index 3 land.

Don’t forget sulphur, especially on lighter worn land. Rates will normally be 15-20kg S/ha for cereals and 25-30kg on winter oilseed rape. Sulphur is easily washed out of the soil in wet conditions so even less deficiency-prone land might benefit this spring.

For spring crops, combine-drilling some compound fertiliser may have an even bigger benefit this spring, especially given that planting may be a bit on the late side. This is particularly important and beneficial on low P and K index soils.

Such crops will show visibly faster early growth when the bulk is being formed in the crop.

If you cannot combine-drill the next best option is to get compound incorporated into seedbed before sowing.

Consider Wolftrax dressing on the fertiliser as a source of trace elements where you know you will have a definite problem with specific trace element deficiencies.