Wet returns

The return of rain in most areas over the past week has again focused minds on getting winter crops planted. Land is still dry and in great order for planting, but this could change. Hopefully it won’t.

Planting: Winter cereal planting is already under way, but it’s still early, except for the awkward fields and colder locations. It is important to remember that planting now is likely to give all the advantages to the grass weeds present in your fields. Early drilling is a compromise between getting crops established in good conditions and having to deal with the additional challenges from weeds and diseases.

The most obvious disease risk from early planting is BYDV, take-all. Redigo Deter seed dressing may be considered for aphid control on September- and early-October-drilled crops. This will not be available next season.

Seed availability could be tight this year, but the seed size of most crops is likely to be smaller than previous years – check this out with your supplier, if possible, as smaller seed means less weight per acre to drill a target seed population.

Sow winter barley initially at around 300 seeds/sq m – 155kg to 185kg/ha or 10t to 12st/ac – for 50g to 57g thousand grain weights. Hold off planting wheat till next week or as late as is sensible on individual fields. Drill early wheat at 180 to 200 seeds/m2 (90kg to 100kg/ha or 5.8st to 6.4st/ac at 45g TGW and 92% establishment). Hold off on oats for a week or two.

Weed control: Early drilling requires diligent weed control. The loss of IPU reduced our ability to control emerged grass weeds and earlier drilling increases infestation pressure. So pre-emerge sprays are now increasingly important for successful control. This includes actives like PDM or flufenacet, which need to be applied pre-emerge in conjunction with other actives to broaden either their grass-weed spectrum or the broad-leaved weeds spectrum of a treatment. Most actives have individual strengths and weaknesses and these need to be addressed either in a programme or a tank-mix.

Rape

Increased rainfall is likely to result in higher slug activity in establishing brassica crops. However, before treatment, you must be sure of what is causing the damage. Slugs eat holes in the leaves of brassica and eat between the veins of cereals. Rabbits graze the foliage, so plant tissue will be removed and the leaf will be cut cleanly, as if with a scissors. Keep an eye on all establishing brassica crops for signs of cabbage flea beetle activity. This problem will remain unless a crop is growing away rapidly.

Stubbles

It has been difficult to get stubbles cultivated to encourage weed growth and now time is running out, as either catch crops or winter crops need to be planted shortly. And slugs are very active in places and especially in emerging rape crops. The catch crop deadline is extended to 30 September. Simple cheaper mixes with things like rape, oats, etc, may be more suitable for later planting.

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