Planting in full swing

With ground in good to very dry condition, planting is now underway up and down the country. Some areas have concentrated on barley initially and then back to first wheats while others sowed some early wheat, then barley and then back to wheat and oats.

The forecast is a bit more broken for the days ahead but there may not be that much rain until after the weekend and even at that stage there may not be very much on the eastern seaboard. So it’s all stations go from here on.

A quick scan of met station numbers indicates that all tillage regions would have to get 300mm or more in the next three months to come in close to their 30 year average rainfall level. That is over 100mm per month and that could quickly put a stop to most field work if it were to happen.

At this point one can target all the cereals, the only reason for caution is warmer areas close to the coast and wheat in high take-all risk slots. Even where Latitude is to be used it is best to delay planting date to the second half of October providing you can still sow it then.

Given that weather seems set to become more broken it may be best to not plough too far ahead of the drill in one-pass scenarios. Those with min-till or no-till have a considerable amount of planting already done and some are finished.

Land has never been so dry post ploughing or cultivation so get the seed in the ground and get it rolled tight to slow slugs and birds. Where possible, roll across inclines to help prevent water erosion down hills over winter.

Seed rates

Drill winter barley at up to 350 seeds/m2 or 180-208 kg/ha (11.5-13 st/ac) for 50-57g thousand grain weights (some varieties have much smaller seed). Drill winter wheat at around 100 kg/ha (6.5 st/ac) to end up with 200 plants/m2 (45 TGW seed); plant winter oats at around 350 seeds/m2 or 130kg/ha (8st/ac) for 36g seed.

Get guidance on seed size as TGW could be much different this year and it appears to be quite variable. Higher seed rates are not a substitute for poor seedbeds.

Fertilisation

You should consider some seedbed fertiliser (P&K) on low fertility fields, especially for winter barley. This might still be applied as organic fertiliser which should be incorporated as close to application as possible. The urgency of incorporation is lower when temperatures drop significantly.

Lime remains a critical input which cannot be substituted. Having pH at optimum is critical to help get the full benefit from all the inputs you apply, especially the major nutrients.

Spraying

Aphids and BYDV are a concern in early emerged crops not treated with Redigo Deter. These crops should be sprayed with a contact insecticide around the 2-3 -leaf stage and again about three weeks later.

Early sown crops need to have herbicides applied early to help combat early weeds. Products such as Flight, Firebird or Vigon might be used in conjunction with either DFF, Pontos or Defy to broaden the weed spectrum.