Investment in backward wheat crops.

[DRC]

I have just read the article in FW,telling us not to neglect inputs in backward wheat.
Is it Agronomy talk, as they will be desperate to sell product after a very lean autumn,or should we really throw the kitchen sink at crops that will have to do something very special to reach even average yields.
My current thinking is to limp through this year without spending too much as i don't think my crops have great yield potential[miracles may happen!] and grow them as i did years ago,one hit at weeds and one fungicide and if they are a bit dirty,pre- harvest roundup.
I know a lot can happen yet,but what are your thoughts?

 

[rob1]

Go by a field twice a week to drop of hay to a customer which is first wheat after rape looked ok at xmas but is visibly going backwards at the moment last time I could see lines of wheat today just a green haze over the field, how can this yield well if tillers are dying off or will they come back if and looking at the long range, if it warms up soon

 

[Clive]

The advertising bias to articles in FW. Is getting ridiculous, it's hard to believe they still have the cheek to ask us to pay for it !

I really can't be bothered to read any of the sponsored propaganda in it any longer.

It's a dated concept that will surely die if it doesn't fundamentally change ?? Forums like this provide a MUCH better knowledge base, are more current, interactive and interesting plus they are free !!

 

[sussexboy]

With you silverfox, i have given everything planted in the autumn a bit of N, now in this neck of the woods am waiting to see what it looks like after some warm weather (whenever that may come) before i spend any more. I've tried, and to date that has cost money (in some probable failed autumn sown crops) i dont think im going to get talked into spending 10k to lose that as well, plus what i already think i have lost. Now that is a silly game to play!!

 

[Fuzzy]

I have just read the article in FW,telling us not to neglect inputs in backward wheat.
Is it Agronomy talk, as they will be desperate to sell product after a very lean autumn,or should we really throw the kitchen sink at crops that will have to do something very special to reach even average yields.
My current thinking is to limp through this year without spending too much as i don't think my crops have great yield potential[miracles may happen!] and grow them as i did years ago,one hit at weeds and one fungicide and if they are a bit dirty,pre- harvest roundup.
I know a lot can happen yet,but what are your thoughts?

Would they be the same agronomy people who told us to delay drilling our crops last autumn !!! I agree with you , it is a year for reduced inputs and then manage the crop on the basis of potential.
Most of our winter wheat is okish, but the rape is a write off and will be re-drilled with spring rape if weather permits. But what drill to use ?????

 

[franklin]

No point in my view even looking at crops for a while. All wheat here will need Atlantis or some contact grass weed. By the time this cold goes and active weed growth cracks on it will be May. This wind is knocking tillers. My feeling is that Atlantis may actually nuke the crop. Poor roots etc.

My best looking wheat was a crop of failed rape which didnt get any herbicide to kill the volunteers. Was sorely tempted to take it to harvest. Any crops of wheat left will get the basic litre of Mantra at T1 and T2 and then leave the stuff be. Stupidly kept on planting when I knew all was fooked, and I wont be a silly and busy fool.

Ag chem supply (except slug pellets) will be more upset that us I think this year.

 

[Clive]

Ag chem supply (except slug pellets) will be more upset that us I think this year.

Won't be long before they are scaremongering and reminding us all of what a mess fusarium can make, giving us all nightmares unless we spend a fortune on fungicides

They will be quick to point out that the seed we have all used has big carry over potential (despite telling us it was fine when they were selling the seed !)

Don't believe a word of it !

 

[franklin]

Don't believe a word of it !

I dont.

 

[fingermouse]

No big spend here, agronomist already muttering about T0,NO BLOODY CHANCE.Made mind up T1+HERBY T2 and roundup pre harvest,and i aint taking no rubbish about that herbicide being to hot for that mix ,go this week with one mix and next week with another shite. This year more than ever he is going to have to work to my tune and not his companys crap.

 

[sussexboy]

No big spend here, agronomist already muttering about T0,NO BLOODY CHANCE.Made mind up T1+HERBY T2 and roundup pre harvest,and i aint taking no rubbish about that herbicide being to hot for that mix ,go this week with one mix and next week with another shite. This year more than ever he is going to have to work to my tune and not his companys crap.

BRAVO!!

 

[Steevo]

Already had an email from BASF this evening promoting Adexar for the coming season - surprised Bayer aren't starting the promotional machine up yet!

Interestingly had an email from Bayer today too about their OSR demo day in a few weeks. They've decided to postpone it due to late development....reminded me of an piece I read recently somewhere by someone saying they are normally looking for first buds about now, currently they're struggling to find viable plants!

 

[yellow belly]

Every crop I have only wheat as of today will be treated on a day today and and field by field basis will plant spring crops up to may fert an fungicide rates will be based on realistic yeald potential

From past experience crops of wheat with enough plants planted before last October 25 will yeald 1994 late spring best crops yealded above average

Spring crops yealded enough to cover operating costs at this years likely prices

I agree the trade will be over optomistic in public to sell product but underdoing it based on experience from 1999 to 2007 will reduce margins

 

[yellow belly]

No big spend here, agronomist already muttering about T0,NO BLOODY CHANCE.Made mind up T1+HERBY T2 and roundup pre harvest,and i aint taking no rubbish about that herbicide being to hot for that mix ,go this week with one mix and next week with another shite. This year more than ever he is going to have to work to my tune and not his companys crap.

BRAVO!!

Already had an email from BASF this evening promoting Adexar for the coming season - surprised Bayer aren't starting the promotional machine up yet!

Interestingly had an email from Bayer today too about their OSR demo day in a few weeks. They've decided to postpone it due to late development....reminded me of an piece I read recently somewhere by someone saying they are normally looking for first buds about now, currently they're struggling to find viable plants!

To in late cold springs not likely to pay as t1 will be very close I cannot see any disease now so so when crops grow spray timings will be more temperature and calendar related work back from likely flag leaf emergence I will use a little and often approach

Rape that has been backward all year planted in September and under 5 leaf at kerb application will yeald less than 1 t per acre so only spend for that yeald 120 kg n will be plenty

 

[fingermouse]

To in late cold springs not likely to pay as t1 will be very close I cannot see any disease now so so when crops grow spray timings will be more temperature and calendar related work back from likely flag leaf emergence I will use a little and often approach

Rape that has been backward all year planted in September and under 5 leaf at kerb application will yeald less than 1 t per acre so only spend for that yeald 120 kg n will be plenty

Some of our wheat and rapes that backward i think it might just climb back into the bag it came from

 

[Elmsted]

From a consistent matching input to output perspective. Coupled with cost per tonne and cashflow. Go back to basics spray the flag leaf cause that is what yeild comes from and let the agchem fungicide get drawn in to the ear. On BLW contacts maybe. Failing that pre-Harvest glypho

 

[Jim Bullock]

Time to start farming again... and not giving all your income to the supply companies..?!

 

[Stoxs]

It will be a year to learn i think.
there are alot of peeps who wont have a clue now the calender is out the window!
Looking forward to a up n down harvest!!

 

[Woodlander]

Already had an email from BASF this evening promoting Adexar for the coming season - surprised Bayer aren't starting the promotional machine up yet!

Interestingly had an email from Bayer today too about their OSR demo day in a few weeks. They've decided to postpone it due to late development....reminded me of an piece I read recently somewhere by someone saying they are normally looking for first buds about now, currently they're struggling to find viable plants!

OSR is unbelievably behind on growth stage. I have a photo from (probably 5 years ago) of OSR on one of my fields on 6th April. Was applying the last dose of N becasue it would have been the latest chance to get through the crop with a spreader. OSR on the same field this year. I'll take a photo on 6th April this year and try to post both up hear for comparison!

 

[Woodlander]

It really is the year for a field by field agronomy package, (in in some instances part field by part field.) I'm glad I do my own agronomy and buy product on a quote basis. Too many people out there will be led by distributor agronomists who will be sell sell sell. Too many agronomists don't actually walk fields, they just look over the gate or walk the first twenty yards, or just select the odd field in a large block. I'll have some fields I will really push for yield (T0 probably omitted) and others will have a limited spend. I'm glad all of my wheat got an autumn residual for blackgrass. It's done a really good job and some fields/part fields won't need Atlantis - (a good cost saving, we can't afford any set back to the crop, and IF!! we get a subsequent dry spring, late Atlantis application could lead to residue problems for following OSR where we're not ploughing.

 

[JonL]

It is certainly a year to farm what is in your field and not what a columnist has observed from the roadside. It does amuse me reading about fully planned fungicide programmes from T0 through to T3. You would think the trade might have learnt something last year about the need to react to the season.

However, do bear in mind that whilst potential yield is almost certainly lower this year, the yield increase from the correct fertiliser and fungicide programme will almost certainly return that investment. Say £250/ha on nitrogen and a conservative fungicide programme. Wheat £180/t for harvest. Only need 1.4t/ha extra. Having spent plenty getting crops established and with fixed costs to carry we still need to maximize the potential of what crops we do have in the ground. No different to any other year in that respect. And no different in my approach, which will be react to what the season throws at us. T0 does look increasingly less likely to be required.

There will, of course, be crops which simply don't warrant ANY further investment and are best written off now.

 

[Andy Howard]

I heard today that Hutchinsons' stores are completely full and they can not take more chemical and obviously no farmer wants any delivered to farm. I hope their bank manager if sympathetic, can not say I am. Too many year of selling crap we do not really need, hopefully people are waking up to the rubbish that has been said now and the past. I am with Jim, we now have to start farming again!

 

[Pilatus]

I am glad their are some farmers who have enough strength off character to stand up to their Agronomist. It is your farm,your crops and your money. When I was farming I used to belong to the then " Arable Research Centre", and it was money well spent as they gave as independent advice as one could get at the time. Of course my agronomist was not too impressed, I wonder why!!!!