Spring crops really struggling

Winter crops are struggling here as badly as the springs, Iben.

We've missed all the rain which fell further east in Dorset, further west in Cornwall, further north in Somerset and further south in the South Hams.

Doubt if we shall exceed our 1976 yields here, which were about 4.5t/hectare for wheat, barley and oats.

Looking on the bright side, the clays are now cracked down several feet deep, which bodes very well for future prospects.

(y)(y).

Nothing down here in coastal South Hams. We've had less than 10mm since late April. Our only saving grace is that we haven't really seen much sun or heat in the last few weeks either.
 

Chae1

Member
Location
Aberdeenshire
I know this is cropping section but is nobody else struggling for grass?

Our fields are brown grass is dead. Second cut done nothing. I've bought a bowser of liquid N to put on 1st cut aftermath as granular just going to sit on top.
 

Surgery

Member
Location
Oxford
I know this is cropping section but is nobody else struggling for grass?

Our fields are brown grass is dead. Second cut done nothing. I've bought a bowser of liquid N to put on 1st cut aftermath as granular just going to sit on top.
Grass down here has kicked on after a drop of rain in may thankfulky otherwise we wouldn’t have much about , quite unbelievable the differences around the country considering being a relative small country
 

Sandy

Member
Location
Aberdeenshire
We’ve had 20 mm since 1st of April crops look well on a whole, sea haar and heavy dews have saved us so far but I hope the forecast is right and we get some rain. As long as it remembers to stop!!
 

jd2013

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Elgin
We’ve had 20 mm since 1st of April crops look well on a whole, sea haar and heavy dews have saved us so far but I hope the forecast is right and we get some rain. As long as it remembers to stop!!
Similar rain but no dew and when we’ve had the haar, no moisture on the ground!
Crops have about a week left in the .
 

bankrupt

Member
Location
EX17/20
Nothing down here in coastal South Hams. We've had less than 10mm since late April. Our only saving grace is that we haven't really seen much sun or heat in the last few weeks either.

Sorry so badly to have misrepresented you, there, Cows 'n grass.

You make an Interesting point, however, as to whether the lack of sun in a drought year is good for grains (by reducing evaporation) or bad ( by reducing photosynthesis).

Fortunately, there's been just enough sun here so far not to make it the limiting factor this time (as it was in 2012).

My guess is the SMD probably will be.

(y)
 
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Happy

Member
Location
Scotland
Can’t believe agronomist advocates 3rd spray of SB in case of ramularia
Moisture stress is main issue
Why have they all suddenly become obsessed with ramularia ???

Only ever done 2 sprays in SB and for first time ever contemplating whether t2 might even be worthwhile doing this year.
Ramularia control wants doing at awns peeping stage which for most up here is the T2 timing.
Once the ear is out any further sprays on SB are pretty pointless.

Not sure why those further south suddenly obsessed with Ramularia. Damp, sunless conditions is what it thrives on. Very unlikely to be an issue in UK this year.
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
As I started this thread I'll say lots of my 25% of spring barley is ok. 50% substandard and 25% shite. Spring Wheat looks good but late. Beans look good but have been saved by recent rains.

I won't average 2t/acre of spring barley this year

After last year, i’d Be happy for my Spring Barley to average 2t. Would have been about half that last year, when we had no appreciable rain between (late) drilling and a week or two before when it didn’t stop.
Thankfully, this year’s looks like having the potential to make up for it, so far.
Beet all looks to have emerged well too, whereas last year it did little until August.
 

Brisel

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Midlands
Can’t believe agronomist advocates 3rd spray of SB in case of ramularia
Moisture stress is main issue
Why have they all suddenly become obsessed with ramularia ???

Sounds like a serviced agronomist! SB is fairly unresponsive to fungicides in most years, though some protection is wise. Ramularia has developed resistance to triazoles & SDHIs so CTL is essential in T2 in SB. I get it every year regardless of weather but wet years are worst.
 

Flat 10

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Fen Edge
Sounds like a serviced agronomist! SB is fairly unresponsive to fungicides in most years, though some protection is wise. Ramularia has developed resistance to triazoles & SDHIs so CTL is essential in T2 in SB. I get it every year regardless of weather but wet years are worst.
Not so long ago, we used to do 1 fungicide on s barley. Now always 2 and grain quality has improved. Given ramularia im happy to chuck a litre of ctl in with prothio and strob at each timing
 

Crabtree

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Oxfordshire
Only second year of Spring Barley growing, got Planet drilled 20-21st April, 115kg N (Lowered due to late drilling) quite clean and growing well after 3" rain towards the end of May, first awn tips just visible, no fungicides or pgrs yet, I was thinking of a single spray of 0.35 Siltra, 1l CTL and 0.5 Canopy/Terpal (I want the straw, but less brackling !!) in the next day or two.
Does that sound about right ??? Opinions please.
 

Flat 10

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Fen Edge
Only second year of Spring Barley growing, got Planet drilled 20-21st April, 115kg N (Lowered due to late drilling) quite clean and growing well after 3" rain towards the end of May, first awn tips just visible, no fungicides or pgrs yet, I was thinking of a single spray of 0.35 Siltra, 1l CTL and 0.5 Canopy/Terpal (I want the straw, but less brackling !!) in the next day or two.
Does that sound about right ??? Opinions please.
It would have to be looking pretty lush for me to use the pgr.....
Otherwise fine
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 80 42.3%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 66 34.9%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 15.9%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 7 3.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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