in wheat and barley will hopefully now be knocked back. The mild January has helped backward wheat crops further establish themselves and look “full”.

The vision of frost and sunshine has lead to the usual flurry of phone calls about early nitrogen. Unlike last year, this year early nitrogen will be a priority on the large number of backward wheat and rape crops. This coupled with a pigeon population which resembles the entire Chinese population! Means that fertiliser spreaders will be moving this week. Crops which are badly grazed by vermin will receive some genuine TLC with 125kg/ha product this month and next. Sulphur is now a standard application, in this dressing for rape and some cereals.