Yields expected to remain resilient

Maximising yield potential and reducing the risk in crops will be “absolutely crucial” to achieving the best possible gross margins this year.

That was the stark message from agronomy experts after a tough start to both winter and spring cropping sessions, with winter crops washed out and spring barley still being drilled.

However, Scottish growers are perhaps still in a more favourable position than those further south, with 85% to 90% of the planned winter cropping in the ground.

It is expected that the spring barley area in Scotland will be around about the same as that of last year at 250,000 hectares or just above because of lower amounts of winter crops in some regions.

Scott Milne, agronomy manager BASF, said: “Despite the relentless rain, on the whole, Scottish winter crops look alright and where this is the case, growers are best to really look after them and try to push them as hard as possible.”

Mr Milne said Septoria is in crops of winter wheat and yellow rust is starting to appear in coastal areas.

“The earliest crops in the Borders would have started to have T1 sprays applied in the first week of May,” he said.

“Many of these crops are poorly rooted so it is important to get on with a plant growth regulator (PGR). Applying Canopy (mepiquat chloride + prohexadione-calcium) will encourage rooting, pushing the roots further down to help with the anchorage.

“In both winter wheat and barley, growers should monitor crops closely as the gap between T1 and T2 may be less than normal, and it is very important to get the timing right and hit the correct leaf layer.

“Revystar XE (Xemium and Revysol) is an excellent choice for these key timings in both wheat and barley. In winter wheat, growers should apply Revystar XE at T1 at 0.75 l/ha and, or at T2 at 1.0 l/ha.”

Scott said the majority of winter barley crops are looking well and have had their T1 sprays to control the primary diseases that were present, Rhynchosporium (Rhynco) and net blotch.

“At T2, Revystar XE applied at 0.75 l/ha is the perfect fit, as Revysol is the strongest azole on Ramularia and Xemium has strong activity on Rhynco and reduces brackling,” he said.

“Barley crops have been stressed by the wet, cold weather and in some cases, delayed early nitrogen applications, all of which are precursors for the development of Ramularia later in the season.”

Scott said there is some spring barley through in areas such as Easter Ross which was drilled in early March but on the whole a lot of crop has gone in recently in a short space of time.

Dr Steve Hoad, leader agronomy and crop improvement at SRUC, said: “If farmers get finished up in the next couple of weeks, in terms of yield I would expect it to be similar, or just under to last year with around 5.5 t/ha average, but the later the drilling, the more yield potential is affected.

“In terms of overall production, however, the larger area will partly compensate both for reduced yield in malting and feed crops.”

SOWING: Work continues in fields after a tough start to the year but Scottish farmers may be less badly affected.