Crops articles from February 2009

Crops archives from February 2009

Three top list of pesticides to worry about losing: new EU pesticides legislation moved a step closer to fruition in January when MEPs agreed a package of proposals. Mike Abram has the latest.(TECHNICAL)
February 7, 2009... After much discussion, lobbying and counterargument the controversial update of the EU pesticides approvals directive now only needs to be rubber-stamped by EU agricultural ministers in March before it begins its passage into law. That...

Know your limits: get sums right when applying fertilizer: NVZ regulations came into effect on 1 January 2009. Mike Abram, with help from Simon Draper, looks at how the N max limits will affect arable farmers.(NITROGEN)
February 7, 2009... All farms which apply nitrogen fertilizer--whether mineral/synthetic, manure, slurry or other organic material--need to plan and record nitrogen use, to comply with the new nitrate vulnerable zone regulations, within leaflet 6 Planning Nitrogen...

There's lots to consider before making cuts: growers have bought nitrogen at a significantly higher price than ever before. Mike Abram investigates whether that means rates should be reduced.(NITROGEN RATES)
February 7, 2009... How much did you buy your nitrogen for this year? Even if you haven't bought it yet, unless there is a massive price crash, it will be the most you've ever paid. And not just by a little. N was trading two seasons ago at about [pounds...

Fluctuating prices make N choices a tough challenge: surging fertiliser prices have been tempting grower to seek cheaper sources of nutrients for this season's crops. Andrew Blake revisits the long-standing urea versus ammonium nitrate debate.(FERTILISER)
February 7, 2009... Do your sums carefully when thinking of substituting urea (46% N) for ammonium nitrate (AN) (typically 34.5% N) as your nitrogen fertiliser, urges ADAS. Given recent wide swings in prices and fluctuating differentials between the two main...

Have patience with pulses is PGRO recommendation: given growers' renewed interest in sowing pulses this spring, Andrew Blake seeks specialist advice on getting crops off to the best start.(SPRING CROPPING)
February 7, 2009... Growers should be patient, especially when establishing peas, recommends PGRO's Anthony Biddle. That's his prime tip for newcomers to pulses, as well as those returning to them after a break of several seasons. "It's all too easy to forget...

What to use when ousting weeds: the tricky autumn means many growers have weeds left to clean up in their cereals. Crops tables summarise the main options.(HERBICIDES)
February 7, 2009... PRODUCT LERAP USE IT FOR DON'T FORGET APPLICATION GRASSWEED ACTIVITY Axial [Syngenta] None Wild oats and Performs well GS12-39 in 100g/litre ryegrass in cold wheat and...

PGRs for wheat and barley: Louise Impey examines the options on offer this spring.(GROWTH REGULATORS)
February 7, 2009... PRODUCT USE IT FOR CROPS LATEST TIME COST OF APPLICATION PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS 5C Cycocel Enhanced CCC ...

Getting the best from fertilizers: better standardisation of soil nitrogen sampling and assessment should help growers get the best from nitrogen fertilisers. Sarah Henly reports.(SOIL NITROGEN)
February 7, 2009... Up to a fifth of crops didn't respond to nitrogen fertiliser in recent HGCA-funded N response trials, suggesting they already had enough N available to them from the soil. Growers commonly estimate how much to apply using RB209's tabular...

Producers pay attention to trailed kit: growers looking to boost fertiliser spreading output or reduce costs by swapping two mounted machines for a single broadcaster are increasingly turning to bigger capacity trailed spreaders. Peter Hill rounds up the contenders.(FERTILISER SPREADERS)
February 7, 2009... They were once the sole province of contractors. But as growers look for economic sources of plant nutrients, take on more land and reduce tractor and manpower costs by reducing the number of spreading outfits operated, so larger growers are...

Direct and min-till sowing germinates latest designs: new seed drills were in the spotlight at this year's LAMMA 2009 event, with direct and min-till sowing the main focus of the newcomers. Peter Hill reports.(DRILLS)
February 7, 2009... A revised set-up for the Moore Unidrill that could give the longestablished direct and min-till seeder design a new lease of life was among several seed drill unveilings at this year's LAMMA 2009 event. The Sumo Versadrill results from a...

Vaderstad increases its hopper capacity.(DRILLS IN BRIEF)
February 7, 2009... Stronger drawbars, frames and front tool brackets--along with a bigger choice of front-end cultivation equipment--are among upgrades to Vaderstad's Rapid grain drills. The Rapid 400 to 800 S also get an output boost from a 10% increase in...

6m and 8m mulch drills join Pottinger's line up.(DRILLS IN BRIEF)
February 7, 2009... Pottinger's 3m and 4m trailed Terrasem mulch drill is being joined by a 6m version this year, with an 8m version to follow soon, says importer LandMec. It follows an established "cultivate/press/sow/press/harrow" formula, using two rows of...

Sulky Easydrill makes use of electronic tramlining.(DRILLS IN BRIEF)
February 7, 2009... If imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery, the team at Moore Unidrill should be flattered by French manufacturer Sulky-Burel's decision to build its own "Uni-drill" instead of continuing to sell the original. The Easydrill...

Extreme circumstances are to blame for crop bolting: last season was one of the worst ever for bolting. What lessons can be learned for 2009? Asks Louise Impey.(SUGAR BEET)
February 7, 2009... Was it the unusually cold weather in March and April, the characteristics of new sugar beet varieties or the advice to start drilling at the end of February which caused high levels of bolting in 2008? Who got it wrong? Was it the...

Seed treatment helps boost germination.(SUGAR BEET)
February 7, 2009... Some 40% of the 2009 sugar beet crop will be planted with British Sugar's new seed priming treatment XBeet, this season, with plans to extend it to the entire 2010 crop. Results from small plot and commercial field trials carried out in...

Experts offer their advice: Scotland's arable farmers have a major arable conference in February to help them tackle the challenges ahead.(SCOTLAND CONFERENCE)(Conference news)
February 7, 2009... There is no doubt that 2008 will remain long in the memory of Scottish arable farmers as the most difficult harvest and drilling campaign in the past 50 years. The winter crop area has suffered massively from bad drilling conditions caused...

We're all in denial about subsidies: our delusions are most evident in the discussion of support cash, says Stephen Carr.(CARR'S CORNER)
February 7, 2009... "We farmers are famous for holding strong opinions. When we meet up in the market, farm sale or the public bar our views will be as strong as they are colourful. Being both independent of means and mostly solitary as we go about our...

Fight to keep derogation broad: momentum must be kept up in the pesticides debate.(Podium)
February 7, 2009... "As the dust settles temporarily on the EU pesticides debate, it is worth reflecting on what has been achieved, what has been lost and what lessons can be learned. It is clear that a significant number of crop protection products, approved...

Cereals events hosts wanted.(BRIEFING)
February 7, 2009... * Ever wondered what it's like to host the Cereals Event? Here's your chance to find out--organiser Haymarket Exhibitions is seeking new sites on working farms. The field-based event, which runs for two days in June, is the leading...

FWi hit parade.(BRIEFING)
February 7, 2009... * The decision by MEPs in Brussels to vote through new legislation for the approval and use of pesticides in agriculture, making the removal of large numbers of crop protection products a certainty, proved to be the most popular arable read on...

It's set-aside by another name.(VIEWPOINT)
February 7, 2009... If you really want to get people behind a new idea--and maintain their support--the carrot always works better than the stick. So why has DEFRA taken a potentially disastrous step by planning to introduce a new environmental scheme based on...

Telematics ... there's no escape now.(JUSTIN MCDONALD'S DIARY)
February 7, 2009... MONDAY * Everyone seems horrified by the implications of the MEPs' vote to ban 15% of the pesticides licensed for use by EU farmers. It's enough to make a cat laugh that the same MEPs also voted for greater food security. But is there...

Keep slug pellets away from our water: Colin Myram explains why everyone must play their part to preserve metaldehyde.(PERSPECTIVE)
February 7, 2009... The cleanliness of water is quite close to my heart. Every November I, and several chums, spend two or three days standing in the waters of the Tweed trying to entice big fish on to the ends of our lines. We all take pleasure in the sights...

Benefits of co-operation to the fore: the independent streak in most UK farmers means co-operation is generally more promoted than practised. But two East anglian growers have found significant advantages in getting together. Andrew Blake reports.(YOUR BUSINESS)
February 7, 2009... Andrew Charlton and Giles Shakespeare both took over tenancies on Norfolk County Council's Stow and Marshland estate in 1999. Until 2006 they ran their respective holdings of 92ha (227 acres) and 168ha (414 acres), independently. ...

Take action now to lower your bill: arable profits for the 2009 tax return could be lower than in 2008, but still need careful management to minimise the tax bill, say accountants. Action is needed before the end of the tax year on 5 April. Suzie Horne reports.(TAX MANAGEMENT)
February 7, 2009... PENSION PAYMENTS Assess how much profit you are making for the tax year ending 5 April 2009. Farmers with a 30 September year end should be close to having, or should already have, their accounts and a tax estimate, says Iain McVicar of...