Crops look well: Most winter-sown crops continue to look well, with relatively even establishment.

While persistent heavy rain could still cause problems, every week we get into the new year leaves growth that bit closer and crops that bit safer.

But there are still a number of critical weeks to go before we are out of the woods.

Decisions: Seed availability may be tight again this spring due to difficulties last harvest that caused quality issues. So, it is important to plan what you want to do in terms of spring planting now. As always, having a broad rotation opens up more opportunities for crop choice.

It seems likely there will be a good interest in protein crops again this spring, if there is adequate seed availability and favourable planting weather. The continuing high price of soya bean meal adds to the value of native beans and the protein aid scheme is expected to be rolled over.

So, get plan A in place and get your seed ordered. Be conscious as to what plan B might be too. Germination issues in seed have made supply uncertain and this makes it important to secure your needs as soon as you know your requirements. While it may well be a few weeks before anything can be sown, this is still a good time to think about what you want to do.

Have you talked to your merchant about harvest prices and the prospect of selling some forward? Do you know what prices are on offer to help guide decisions on wheat versus barley or oats – oilseed rape? Knowing the answers to these questions may help you to steer an acreage into a different crop for either profitability, rotation, workload or even curiosity reasons.

Beans: Growers on dry land might consider planting beans in the next few weeks, weather permitting. Planting must be deep (4in or greater) to help minimise crow damage. While early planting is beneficial, it is not essential. It may be useful if we get another drought for a period this spring.

Seedbed conditions are important for beans, as is soil fertility. Conditions down in the seedbed matter as much or more than the top because that is where the roots grow. Teagasc research found higher yields with later planting in some years, pointing to the need for attention to seedbeds.

Fertility is also important. Soil pH needs to be close to seven and some P & K should be put down with the seed on Index 1 or 2 soils. This is even more important with strip-till planting. P and K requirement depends on soil fertility, with recommended rates for Index 1, 2 and 3 put at 50kg, 40kg and 20kg/ha for P and 125kg, 50kg and 40kg/ha for K, respectively. Feed it if you want to grow it – it is very difficult to pull a crop back from a problem.

Beans can be successfully planted by ploughing or strip-tilling and the latter is preferable. Seed rate should be driven by seed number and seed size with the aim of establishing around 30 plants/m2. Make sure that your seed source is free of ascochyta and bean stem nematode.