North: Don’t give up on drilling yet

Patrick Stephenson 15 October 2012 https://www.fwi.co.uk More in ArableCrop Watch North: Don’t give up on drilling yet Patrick Stephenson 07 May 2013 >More in ArableCrop Watch Annus

horribilis, the queen had a famous one and farming ishaving a weather one this year. Just when you think it is safe to step into thefield another 25mm comes down we are back to square one.

Hard though itmay be to believe, but the Darlington areareceived in excess of 5 inches of rain on that fateful Monday and Tuesday atthe beginning of October.

I am always someone for making sweeping statements, but tome it appears the more money you have spent on a drill or tillage system themore likely it is to be sat in the yard. 

Agricultural machinery sales are ahive of activity, as power harrow combination units are sought like a rareStradivarius. Even these are failing to move in many areas, and broadcastingwith a

fertiliser spreader is the order of the day followed by a range ofimplements to cover the seed. This brings a whole new meaning to how many acresyou can drill in a day!

Oilseed rape crops have the full spectrum of growth stages. with most best described as vertically challenged. As usual the doom mongers are warning of epidemic disease levels and imminent

Armageddon. Sorry, but disease control is well down the list of jobs to do at the minute, sitting well behind spot the rape plant! 

All being well residual graminicides and disease control will happen in two to three weeks, but following this Annus Horribilis, it will probably be be a foot deep in snow!

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