The drier conditions over the last week have been a welcome sight. Winter cereal crops on the whole have struggled with the persistent wet conditions since drilling. Many crops have also been decimated by slugs over the winter and more recently leatherjacket numbers have rocketed. Hopefully all crops have received their autumn herbicide for the control of broad leaved weeds and annual meadow grass but there is still an opportunity to apply residual herbicides to late drilled crops. Othello is still an option going into the spring for grass weed control where the grass has begun to tiller (on winter wheat only). Most crops are now beginning to seek fertiliser and now is the time to assess which fertiliser is to be applied according to the soil analysis. Cereal pricing still remains strong but this is overshadowed by the rising cost of fertiliser and other essential commodities to grow crops. It is more important than ever to carry out soil samples with soils of index 3 for P&K being the optimum level for agricultural land. I feel there is still not enough emphasis put on the importance of PH levels in the soil. Where ph is low the soil is unable to utilise the nutrients in the fertiliser, ph of 6.5 is ideal to grow cereal crops with 6.0 being more suited to potato crops.Landscapers have been working away through all the wet weather but pruning and other work has been difficult with current ground conditions. Unfortunately with the extreme weather conditions experienced over this winter many trees and shrubs have died and will need replacing.
Winter is the best time to control weeds around young hedges and trees. Season long control of grasses and most broad-leaved weeds is possible by applying Kerb Granules at this time. Kerb is a pre- and post-emergence residual herbicide that provides selective, broad spectrum weed control.
Kerb can be applied to all soil types, therefore allowing its use in many areas where weed control is needed. Kerb is the ideal herbicide for forestry and woodland (including farm forestry), ornamental shrubberies and rose beds, hedges, fence lines and gravel pathways.
Agrochemicals and fertilisers are major variable inputs in growing crops and the way they are applied has a great influence on their efficacy.
It is essential therefore that the equipment used to apply them is well maintained and accurate.
Sprayers should be calibrated regularly. One of the most important areas of the sprayer is the nozzle. Nozzle output should be measured to check that it is the same as the value in the calibration chart for that type of nozzle. Nozzles with a variation of more than 5% should be changed.
Money spent maintaining the sprayer is money well spent as a properly calibrated sprayer will reduce wastage of agrochemicals and will improve their performance.
Similarly fertiliser sowers should be calibrated and if possible get a tray test carried out to check the spread pattern as striping in crops is often caused by uneven fertilizer application, which again wastes money.