Crop prospects for this harvest

[buggerit]

Anyone want to make any predictions?

Hopefully not another washout

Only got a bit of barley here but it affects us all

 

[warksfarmer]

Just done our budget for the bank manager, I have 90% planted but expect to loose 20% of that. I probably wont redrill it either and go fallow instead. Of the crop that makes harvest I am budgeting on 2t/ac for wheat at £150/t and 2t/ac for winter barley at £150/t. Not selling any straw so thats me for the season. Cost wise I have only purchased seed so far and at the moment have yet to commit to fertiliser and the sprayer has not been into any fields for any chemical application. The remaining inputs will all be bought as required so I am not committing to any large orders. This is all for 750 acres of my own crops. The same however is for the couple of contract farming agreements we are involved with as well. I have put on hold a drill, sprayer and auto steer purchase as well. Battening down the hatches for 2 years I am afraid.

 

[Niels]

Are many farmers choosing for leaving land fallow? Was reading this post on FWi; http://www.fwi.co.uk/articles/13/02...to-rise-as-rain-falls-on-waterlogged-soil.htm and I wondered whether it really is true or farmers are shafting FW?

 

[Mongoose]

I think the next month is going to have a big bearing... ask me in a few weeks time!

 

[John 1594]

I think we need to be looking more at making things good for harvest 2014, the land is going to take some getting back into shape after this harvest, if things keep as they are now!

 

[fenlander]

things not looking to bad here budgeting on 8.5t/ha wheat 7t/ha barley and 4t osr if the big man upstairs plays ball with weather should do budgeted yields plus a little more

 

[yellow belly]

land now back to very wet again today glag i have not put any n on what as it would now be heading down to the wash march/april needs to be dry for all the spring crops to get planted yealds on heavy land are now seriously compromised all previous wet autumns/winter have given lower than average yealds without exception
lighter land is also suffering due to the constant wet weather

the hope is that we get sensible amounts of rain when crops need it in may and june 30mm would be enough from past experience if we get hot dry weather in may or june then crop yeald will be well under average

 

[EJS]

we are expecting lower yields on ww in ground now still have 40% spring beans and oats to plant - have decided to put capital investment on hold for 12months. Combination of rent review plus new building, tractor and sprayer last year means need to tighten belt for while

 

[DRC]

I am getting worried as my wheat , sown late after maize,seems to be going backwards and needs some early N.
The heavy land didn't get drilled and prospects for spring crops on these fields is'nt good. The only thing to do may be to grow maize for the biofuel plants as it wouldn't need drilling until may.Fallowing not an option on tenanted farm,especially after 30% rent rise.

 

[AlfM]

Our light land wheat after maize is fast disappearing. Turning brown. Agronomist seems to think its slumped and lack of oxygen. Says it will be fine, but was up well enough to see tramlines a month ago, and now barely nothing.

 

[MF7618]

2 half to 3 ton acre for W/B if the weather is kind, no W/W this year any uncrop land going into maize.