Mild, wet winter could cause problems for spring sowing

High winter rainfall, coupled with relatively warm average daily temperatures, will have led to excess nitrogen leaching on many northern soils, said Mr Dickinson.

“A high proportion of residual nitrogen will have washed through the soil, so application calculations will need to take that into account on fields where soil testing has not been carried out,” he stated.

“Growers should look out for the narrow window that is usually open for the first split nitrogen application in March. It should start with oilseed rape crops and move on to cereals. The mild weather and fairly good establishment conditions last autumn have produced lush crops on many farms.”

Conditions will have favoured slugs and aphids, and he is finding some crops showing significant signs of slug damage.

“Slugs could reduce yields this year, especially for spring cereals. It is important to get in early to remove cover crops, which have become very popular due to incentives offered by the SFI scheme. Cover species must be fully destroyed, as otherwise they create an ideal environment for slugs to thrive and multiply. Nevertheless, it is worth checking individual SFI agreements, to make sure that the timing guidance is being followed.

“The cold spells in late winter should have reduced aphid populations, but numbers should continue to be monitored and a rapid response is required if the threshold is exceeded. I have also seen a lot of pigeon damage in oilseed rape. The national acreage has declined, but as far as I am aware, pigeon numbers have not fallen. This reduction in feed availability for the pigeons has the potential to concentrate bird numbers and result in more serious field damage.”

Growers should be ready to take advantage of what is often a limited opportunity to apply herbicides to young cereal crops, he added.

“Weed control must be achieved in a timely fashion. When walking crops in the North, I have seen some evidence that efforts to combat broad-leaved weeds in the autumn/winter have not been fully effective and that will need to be remedied.

“However, the most critical issue is the control of grass weeds in winter cereals, because there is widespread evidence of herbicide resistance. The field history is very important when considering the approach and there is no one-size-fits-all solution.”

In hard water situations, including some parts of Yorkshire, water softeners will help with product efficacy, he advised. In terms of nozzle choice, a flat fan will be helpful to achieve a finer spray, but on high wind speed days, slow forward travel will give a more targeted result. The plant must be actively growing, and it is essential to avoid spraying plants in frosty weather due to the risk of plant damage.

“The overriding message is that grass weeds must be tackled as soon as possible, although unfortunately that often coincides with poor conditions which preclude spraying,” he stressed. “Herbicide products are expensive, and they need good weather if they are to work properly.”

Mr Dickinson also some recommendations for spring seed sowing.

“The standard figure for spring barley is 330 seeds per square metre, but the number could be increased to up to 425 in fields where grass weeds present competition, even after herbicide spraying.

“I would suggest going slightly higher for spring wheat planting, by sowing 350-500 seeds per square metre. On light land use the lower limit, although for heavier soils the upper limit will boost productivity in cases where the herbicide has only been partially effective and grass weeds look likely to lead to a yield penalty.

“It is always best to err on the high side for seed numbers for spring wheat, as it does not tend to tiller as well as spring barley. In addition, spring barley will also cope with lower temperatures, compared with spring wheat.”

Mr Dickinson also had a point to make on cover crop growing.

“They will not perform to their full potential if they are sown and then just left to look after themselves, as they require careful management in the same way as any other crop. Attention to detail with seedbed preparation will get the plants off to a good start.

“Some growers have had disappointing results in cases where cover crop seed has been broadcast, and a sub-soiler can be a useful tool for encouraging good establishment. It will create a shallow channel, which will not only benefit the roots but also act in the same way as a drain, to remove water for the soil surface. On heavy land, or in any other challenging situation, it may improve the results so that growers can see the full benefits of cover crop planting,” said Mr Dickinson.