Content originally published in the Farmers Guardian
One word sums up the season so far – wet. Up until the middle of June we had 12 months of pretty consistent rainfall, not so much in volume but in the number of days it fell.
But, as one farmer said to me recently, it's not as bad as last year when it started raining in mid-June and didn't stop, which created a constant battle against the elements throughout harvest.
We can only hope the rain stays away. As I write this in the second week of July, winter cereals generally look OK. Growers have started harvesting winter barley for crimping, and we are just starting pre-harvest desiccation on dry-grain crops. This is of course useful for managing variable stands and to help timely establishment of following crops such as grass reseeds, stubble turnips and cover crops.
Spring barley crops suffered from the mid-June deluge, particularly those recently sown on heavier land. Others have responded to a further application of fertiliser and micronutrients. Provided we get a reasonable summer it won’t be a complete disaster.
Maize continues to slowly improve. A lot of open-sown maize is still less than knee high in the second week of July. In most cases micronutrients went on with the herbicide and a number of growers are now applying slow-release foliar urea to help optimise crops growth through the summer.
Grass growth has slowed due to fluctuating temperatures, complicating grazing management. That has also hindered silage regrowths – many first cuts weren’t taken until June, by which time plants had headed, which also tends to slow growth.
It will be mid-August before another cut is taken and silage will be of very mixed quality. That doesn’t leave much time for a third cut, but most growers should have enough, given that delayed first-cut crops produced very heavy yields.
Multi-cut growers will be heading for a third cut shortly so I’d say they are in a relatively good position.
Turning to SFI, we are now looking to spray perennial weeds such as docks in readiness for drilling herbal leys (SAM3) or clover (NUM3) into swards.
With the right choice of mix and good management, these options have every chance of helping deliver healthier soils and improving nutrient management. In addition, I would urge people to include grass seed to help rejuvenate thinner leys. They are making a pass with the drill anyway, and being paid to do it.
Simon Nelson advises farmers on a wide range of arable and forage crops across Cumbria, north Lancashire and into south-west Scotland.
