It finally feels like we are onto the last leg of the 2021 autumn sowing campaign, and as back ends go, this must have been one of the kindest to date. Odd showers here and there and mild temperatures have meant near perfect conditions for getting crops back in the ground, and in Yorkshire and the North East I would say we are 95% complete. Direct drills were still racking up the acres last week however after this week’s forecast I feel they may be getting a final grease up and set to hibernate until next spring. Their prehistoric ever-dependable counterparts will be left to mop up the last few fields when conditions allow.
Winter barleys are all up and ranging from 2 leaves to early tillering, with the majority having received their desired herbicide programmes. Early sown hybrid varieties are romping away and could do with a frost or two to keep them in check. Focus on these crops now changes to aphid monitoring and if thresholds are met an insecticidal treatment will be recommended. Generally in the north, we are low risk but not no risk. I always like to apply some autumn manganese to fields with a known history of deficiency.
As with barleys winter wheats are at various stages from early tillering to being sown as I write. These later sown crops are mainly on fields following roots, maize or bad blackgrass land. The situation regarding herbicide applications echoes progress made within barley crops. The grey field slug, our autumnal thorn in the side is really starting to ramp up their activity on emerging wheats. Some crops have required a second dose of ferric phosphate, with the later dose mainly tailored to more targeted areas. More developed crops with more than 3 leaves I believe are now past the at risk stage.
Early sown oilseed rape crops are now starting to lose a little bit of height as mildew and early winter leaf death are creeping in. I have had many phone calls about the high levels of mildew within crops however even with a cloud of white pustules kicking up as I walk, I never get too concerned with the infection especially within some of these monstrous crops. Close inspections of crops are yet to show any signs of Phoma lurking so autumn fungicide programmes can for now be placed on the back burner. Later sown crops are reaching the 3-4 leaf stage with a nice open canopy and will soon be getting a Belkar treatment if no pre-emergence herbicide was applied. I will be looking to get Kerb applications on towards the end of the month, into early November providing the supply is forthcoming! Fortunately, I pre-ordered a lot of Astrokerb/Kerb early so the majority has already been delivered.
What else is there left to say? A good harvest, good yields, positive commodity price and a relatively pain free autumn sowing campaign surely we must all be happy until I say the dreaded word….Nitrogen! The price of this essential nutrient has risen faster than Tyson Fury after the count of 7. With nitrogen now at £2/kg questions are being raised over the optimum rates for use next spring, that’s providing product is even available. My calculations for the wheat economic optimum nitrogen rate per ha with current prices is around 150kg/ha. If you have purchased nitrogen at the early price of £270/tonne then there is no need for any major change but try not to smile. On a more positive note ‘I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here’ will soon be back on our screens….what more could we want.
