NEWSLETTER APRIL 2017
AGRONOMY Oilseed rape crops are forward following the warm temperatures in mid-March, with first flowers beginning to appear the third week in March. As flowering progresses, pollen beetle will become less of a problem. With forward crops themid flowering fungicide timingmay be earlier this year, monitor fields as they progress. There are a lot of forward crops of wheat this year with many already receiving a robust growth regulator with the T0 fungicide. There have been sightings of active yellow rust, even in varieties that are not considered to be susceptible. A robust T1 fungicide will be required with product choice critical depending on what is happening in the field. Monitor carefully and consider using a SDHI fungicide if disease levels are high. Always add in a multi-site fungicide (chlorothanlonil or folpet) at the T1 timing as part of an anti –resistance strategy. Some winter barley crops may also have been sprayed but if not, there are very good responses in winter barley to SDHI fungicides at the T1 timing. Oats are also forward in places and will have been treated with growth regulators. Follow this up with another dose at the T1 timing. If not so forward, then make sure a robust treatment is applied at T1 and tidy up any weeds as necessary. A number of sp. barley crops have received their pre-emergence herbicide. If not, monitor germination and control broad leaved weeds in conjunction with trace elements as necessary. Where there are concerns of SU resistant weeds, the new Arylex range of herbicides look to be a good fit and with no following crops restrictions may be the product of choice when following sp. barley with stubble turnips. Spring pulse crops should have received their pre-emergence herbicide. Monitor for weevil attack from emergence, especially if warm. Treat at the first sign of damage and repeat
if necessary. If it is cold when peas emerge, especially on lighter soils, check the growing points for thrips. These cause a distortion of the growing point and slow the growth of peas. Sow linseed and sp. OSR into warming soils to encourage rapid emergence and get away from flea beetle. Treat with a pyrethroid at the first sign of damage. Winter beans will require treating for chocolate spot at mid-flowering. Sow maize when soil conditions are suitable and soils are warming up. This allows rapid establishment and aids weed control. Maize is a poor competitor early on, if enough moisture consider using a pre-emergence, any doubt wait and treat post- emergence. Fodder beet is also a very poor competitor early on. Apply a pre-emergence herbicide and follow- up rapidly with a post – emergence treatment when the weeds are at the cotyledon stage. Product choice will depend on the weed spectrum present. A second, post emergence herbicide will be necessary to control a further flush of weeds before the crop canopy meets and the beet starts to compete with the weeds. It will be a busy month with the sprayer so hopefully there will be numerous spraying opportunities.
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SEED Limited stocks of sp. barley varieties, Irina and Planet are still available for swift delivery for any top up required during spring drilling. Mulika sp. wheat and limited Vertigo and Lynx are also on the floor. Maize seed sales have picked up pace with the potential of an earlier drilling period than last season. Heat units are generally up along the coastal region, compared to the 5 year average and soil temps are on the increase, looking positive for a good start for maize crops. Our extensive range covers all maturity classes, offering varieties suitable for high yield milk production, AD plants and crimping. Grass varieties in our herbage and amenity ranges have been updated offering great value for money, quality and yield to fit whatever your production needs. From one year silage ley’s, longer term prime grazing and cutting mixes to permanent pasture and haylage mixes. FEED Proteins - Soya prices have continued to ease as the market watches the large S. American harvest which triggered a wave of fund selling. US bean exports and Brazilian bean sales are as expected but the crucial point is that currency has recovered slightly giving us £8 off the spot price week on week. Currency will continue to be a key factor and with the triggering of Article 50, we could see another volatile period. For that reason, looking at taking on cover now for the summer and even looking ahead to next winter, would hedge against the currency risk. . Rapemeal has followed soya down but not to the same extent. The differential between new and old crop is already wide enough that it continues to look right against soya, despite the drop. There are still concerns over the size of the UK crop and again, currency could also cause issues going forward. Energy/Fibres - Soya Hulls remain fairly flat but Sugarbeet is fast moving up with stocks for the summer already looking tight. The winter can still be bought onto farm sub £160 in most areas but this has already moved up around £10 in the past few weeks. NuStart - We have a wide range of traditional compound feed options and in feed minerals as well as our new range of lamb milk powders for this lambing season. Silage samples across the region are showing high acidity this year, caustic wheat can help reduce the risk of acidosis with its slow release starch. We have secured a new supplier of caustic treated wheat allowing us to offer this product at competitive rates.
Following the vote to leave the European Union in June last year it created uncertainty for agri- environmental agreements moving forward, but clarity has now been given that existing agreements (ELS, HLS and CS) will be honoured in full. With this inmind it is reassuring that the Countryside Stewardship Scheme applications numbers are higher than last year. CSS options are more diverse and have flexibility for farmers to include individual parcels of land, the scheme is designed to be more focused and targeted, with strong emphasis on wild pollinators and farm wildlife packages. Our 2017 Gamecover and Environmental booklet is now available both online and booklet form offering suitable solutions to all your scheme requirements. Please contact the seed department to discuss any tailor made requirements you may have.
FERTILISER April is a high demand month for spring fertiliser and this year there are only 18 days available for deliveries, please book early to avoid disappointments.
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