by Ben Jones, Farm Manager, Allerton Project
Drier ground
The last two drilling seasons have been pretty easy, but this year a lot of seed isn't going into moist ground so we're waiting on rain. Seed can wait a couple of weeks, but if it sits in the ground too long it’s more vulnerable to slugs and the amount drilled may prove insufficient to ensure adequate plant count. It’s definitely an advantage having gone down the regenerative route as where we're direct drilling or practicing min tillage there’s more moisture in the soil. Whereas where we have ploughed and power harrowed, we will need rain for germination.
SFI actions on hold
Being shut out of the last round of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) means I’ve had to drill arable crops in field corners that we were going to prepare for agri-environment options, while we wait to see if an agreement is possible. Typically, the margins are lower on spring crops and they're more at risk of drought, so we tend to favour winter sown crops. However, there are a few whole field measures under SFI that make them more profitable. There's a low input harvested cereal that has very limited herbicides and less fertiliser and is drilled to create a more open structured canopy, which allows for weeds and benefits ground nesting birds and invertebrates. Then there are cover crops which are good for soil health and water quality as they prevent bare ground and capture. Finally, there's companion cropping, which can perform a similar function. Sadly, at the moment, we don’t know if any of these options will be available to us.
Slug and crow control needed on the oilseed rape (OSR)
This year I had wanted to get the 36 hectares of OSR in sooner, but the dry weather meant it had to go in around the same time (26 August) in quite similar conditions (at the end of a very dry period and just before we had a reasonable bit of rain). It's certainly been a lot more challenging to establish than last year. We've had quite a lot more slug and crow damage, so we’ve had to use more slug pellets and get the gas guns out to keep the crows off. There’s been a bit more flea beetle pressure as well, but at present we’ve got a reasonable crop in most areas.
Direct drilled linseed
Last year we drilled the linseed a little bit too late, and we didn't get a good enough establishment before winter, so I drilled it earlier this year (early September), which seems to have worked nicely. The six hectares has been direct drilled because it likes a firm seedbed. Direct drilling is also good for the soil and requires less time and diesel, making it cheaper than other forms of cultivation with reduced emissions. You do need to be aware of compaction, but it’s gone into well-structured soil.
Barley emerging already
The barley was drilled around 25 September, which is a little earlier than normal as we had some wet weather. We put in 11 hectares and where there was moisture it has started to emerge, but some fields will need more rain. Moisture levels in the soil vary depending on what the previous crop was, the type of cultivation and type of ground. Lighter soils dry out quicker whereas some heavier ground holds water.
It’s best not to drill barley before the end of September, as before that there is a greater risk of the crops contracting barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV). Similarly to the wheat we plant a disease resistant variety, but not using insecticides anywhere on the farm means we can’t spray for aphid, which carries the virus. The other reason for delaying sowing is it gives the black grass time to come up so we can spray it off with glyphosate to clean the seedbed.
Wheat in last
Wheat is by far our biggest crop with 80 hectares going in. It was the last to be drilled and I finished on 6 October. The timing was good with a decent rainfall on the morning of 7th, so hoping for a good start.