Disagreeable weather

Both temperature and rainfall have been disagreeable over the past week. Fields are greening up, but high rainfall levels in places and lack of growth make loss of nitrogen a consideration. Areas where soil is damaged are now very visible and you should take note of these for future correction.

There were some small bits of planting done in the past week, but wet prevented activity in most fields. Temperatures look set to remain low for the immediate future and rain may continue to slow planting progress. With the way spring is shaping up you may need to get nitrogen on winter crops a bit early, so you can concentrate on planting when the opportunity comes.

Forward winter crops may be at growth regulator stage. It is preferable to have growth temperatures when applying growth regulators, but it may be difficult to get perfect conditions this spring. Temperatures may remain relatively low for some time yet.

Planting

This is proving to be an awkward spring, which is not uncommon following a good autumn for planting. Where land is still wet for ploughing it makes the question as to plant or not very real. The priority is to get any remaining spring wheat planted at about 350 seeds/m2. But even this is questionable unless you are in an early part of the country or you are producing for wholecrop.

Oats is also a priority at about 140-155kg/ha (9-10st/ac). While there is less urgency on barley, it needs good conditions and then drill at 155-170kg/ha (10-11st/ac).

Combine drill fertiliser where possible – seedbed incorporation is the next best option. Fertilise according to soil test results. If you don’t have a recent soil test the maximum P allowed is 27kg/ha, assuming a 7t/ha crop average. If you are Index 1 for P and K then three bags of 10:10:20 per acre is a reasonable starting point. Add sulphur on light-worn ground.

Good seedbeds remain important for spring crops. If seedbeds are tending to be cloddy then plant a little deeper. Try and roll post drilling if conditions are good enough. Roll at an acute angle to the direction of drilling.

Nitrogen

Forward rape crops need their remaining nitrogen shortly. Some crops are already finished. The maximum allowed rate is 225kgN/ha so apply the balance soon. If you had a full canopy and applied less N as a result, the last 90kgN/ha (70 units/ac) should be applied as flowers appear. It will shortly be time for the main N split on many winter cereal crops and the few early spring crops will soon be ready for top dressing. On Index 1 soils bring winter wheat and barley up to 180kgN/ha (145 units/ac) at early stem extension and winter oats up to 145kgN/ha (115 units/ac). On more fertile Index 2 soils bring winter wheat up 150kgN/ha; winter barley up to 155kg/ha and winter oats up to 85kgN/ha.