IN THE FIELD Richard Overthrow


Rain eases stress on arable crops at last


M


After months of dry weather, rain in mid-May helped revive parched crops – at least a little, says Richard Overthrow


uch debate among growers and agrono- mists in recent months


has focused on yield potential and appropriate levels of crop inputs given the prolonged dry spell. This mainly concerned win- ter crops although many spring crops also suffered. With a bit of luck, recent rain has helped to rescue some yield potential. Winter wheat crops will have received their fl ag leaf fungicide treatments and hope- fully these were fairly robust as these treatments always protect the crop from the time of applica- tion, not before. Even so, all spring we have had


to assume that disease pressure will build following each applica- tion. It is frustrating but treating crops in hindsight isn’t an option in these cases. For winter wheat, the disease control campaign continues with the ear spray fungicides. Again, we cannot rule out a wet end to the season and as we saw in 2012 ear disease can knock sev- eral tonnes off the yield.


Grain fill Ear spray fungicides are impor- tant for fusarium and mycotoxin control. But they also top-up fl ag leaf protection and help to keep it healthy until the end of grain fi ll.


TIMELY TIPS


• Control fusarium and mycotoxin risk


• Look out for aphids on cereal ears


• Apply T2 fungicide to spring barley


• Watch out for rust in oats and beans


Quality wheats (Groups 1-3) will need to be assessed for fusar- ium and mycotoxin risk. But feed wheat crops – many of which end up in human consumption mar- kets – can also develop these ear disease to signifi cant levels in wet summers.


Most crops will therefore need a fusarium timing T3, at early fl owering (GS61-65) of an appro- priate triazole (e.g. tebuconazole, prothioconazole or metconazole). This may be little more than a


Spring cropping can have a dramatic effect on the reduction of blackgrass populations - the problem is that blackgrass can be the dominant weed on heavy, difficult soils which can be hard to establish a spring crop.


AGROVISTA CAN OFFER SPECIFIC CATCH AND COVER CROP MIXES WHICH CAN:


• Create a platform to ease spring drilling • EFA and non EFA options available • Improve soil structure • Help increase soil organic matter • Capture nutrients that would otherwise be lost • Help win the battle against grassweeds


For more information on specific cover crop varieties, mixes and uses and how to purchase, please contact either your local Agrovista agronomist or enquiries@agrovista.co.uk.


T: 0115 939 0202 www.agrovista.co.uk


COVERCROP_AD_Anglia Farmer_132x188.indd 1 16 ANGLIA FARMER • JUNE 2017


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