Crops articles from March 2008

Crops archives from March 2008

Prochloraz: gearing up for a return? Is prochloraz about to make a comeback in fungicide programmes? Mike Abram examines the hype.(TO INPUTS)
March 8, 2008... Septoria resistance to strobilurin fungicides in wheat gave the impetus for a chlorothalonil comeback. Now, perhaps, greater understanding of what causes septoria insensitivity to some triazole fungicides could be the stimulus prochloraz needs...

Keep wheat crops standing to ease combining burden: increased wheat areas this season make it important to prevent crops lodging to avoid harvest issues, Mike Abram hears.(TO INPUTS)
March 8, 2008... Preventing lodged crops should be high on most farms' priorities this season with high prices adding significantly to the returns being protected for relatively little outlay. But growers also need to factor in increased combine areas as a...

Weed control routes not set in stone: top beet yields need tip-top weed control. But with several spray strategies available, how should growers decide which to pick? Andrew Blake relays Broom's Barn advice.(SUGAR BEET HERBICIDES)
March 8, 2008... Whichever beet spraying programme you choose--FAR, conventional, or so-called "active"--be sure to stay flexible, urges weed specialist Mike May. "Always consider the conditions." In last year's tricky spring growers who switched from...

On-board control is right on target: an on-planter digital control system could help growers meet the ever-increasing staff welfare and pesticide targeting issues raised by retailers, Louise Impey hears.(POTATO SEED TREATMENT)
March 8, 2008... More efficient application of pesticides usually helps both growers and the consumer, Paddy Graham-Jones, technical and procurement director with Albert Bartlett, says. That is why the launch of an on-planter digital control system,...

Crucial to know weed control options: the withdrawal of paraquat means potato growers will need to completely rethink weed control strategies this spring, Paul Spackman reports.(POTATO HERBICIDES)
March 8, 2008... Growers may have until 11 July 2008 to use up existing stocks of paraquat, but with relatively small amounts left on-farm, many will have to get to grips with the alternatives sooner rather than later, according to experts. Don't think the...

War on disease: the arsenal; Crops updated fungicide tables guide you through this year's main disease control options.(FUNGICIDES)
March 8, 2008... FARMERS WEEKLYINTERACTIVEfwi.co.uk * Due to the large number of fungicides registered for use in cereals it has not been possible to include every product and manufacturer Products have been selected to illustrate the disease spectrum...

Rethinking our disease strategies: rusts and tan spot could herald a distinct change to fungicide strategies in the future. Mike Abram spoke to Bill Clark ahead of the Broom's Barn cereal disease conference.(FUNGICIDES)
March 8, 2008... Tan spot and rusts--black stem rust, as well as more familiar brown and yellow rust--could become the key wheat diseases for growers to control as our climate changes, according to Bill Clark, director of Broom's Barn. And that would...

Delayed N pays in forward rape crops: there's no need to apply nitrogen fertiliser to oilseed rape right away unless crops are struggling. Sarah Henly reports.(OILSEED RAPE)
March 8, 2008... Delaying nitrogen fertiliser applications has significantly increased the yield of large oilseed rape crops in trials for two years running. Pete Berry of ADAS is confident that forward crops benefit from receiving the nutrient two to...

Monitor cereal crops for mildew now growers warned.(Weed and Disease Control)
March 8, 2008... Mildew in cereal crops is already at high infestation levels, especially on susceptible varieties so regular monitoring of crops is essential from now and appropriate fungicide programmes implemented if the disease is to be kept in check. ...

No substitute for genuine SU herbicides.(Weed and Disease Control)
March 8, 2008... Lack of autumn spray days will mean spring herbicides are going to play more of a key role in taking out competitive weeds and with 70% of blackgrass fields still untreated, the use of herbicide sequences will be fundamental to weed control...

Mildew fungicide primes plants defences.(Weed and Disease Control)
March 8, 2008... The traditional concept of crop protection could be about to take on a new dimension as scientists gain more knowledge into how plants use their own genes to fight diseases such as mildew once they have been primed by specific fungicides. ...

Broad spectrum and fast acting SU herbicides beat BLW.(Weed and Disease Control)
March 8, 2008... Increased workload pressure at key spring timings mean growers should stick with DuPont SX sulfonyl-urea herbicides that offer a wide range of tested tank mix compatibilities, SU sequences and a quicker safer washout procedure, rather than...

Cereal fungicides critical to help maximise yield.(Weed and Disease Control)
March 8, 2008... Variable emergence plus early indications that mildew is already in cereal crops means the pressure is on to eliminate this disease before it takes hold. Higher wheat prices, susceptible varieties and pressure on machines and labour at critical...

Buyers beware of using generic spring herbicides.(Weed and Disease Control)
March 8, 2008... Arable farmers are being urged to order their spring herbicides early so that they are more likely to take receipt of the product they ordered rather than running the risk of getting a poor quality generic alternative. Nobody quite knows...

Ally[R] Max SX--weed control you can trust.(Weed and Disease Control)
March 8, 2008... It's likely you will be using a sulfonyl-urea (SU) herbicide such as Ally[R] Max SX on your farm this year. "This season, you may be offered a generic alternative", but, according to DuPont herbicide product manager Alister McRobbie, when it...

Time for industry to take initiative on climate change: climate change was on the agenda at two recent conferences. Mike Abram reports from the Norfolk Farming Conference, while Paul Spackman covered Crop Protection in Northern Britain.(CONFERENCES)(Conference notes)
March 8, 2008... Agriculture has to take the initiative on climate change and devise its own greenhouse gas strategy without jeopardising yields and profits, according to Norfolk arable farmer Ed Buscall. If it doesn't, it risks facing much more outside...

UK agriculture R & D spend is 'pathetic'.(CONFERENCES)
March 8, 2008... The UK food and land sector spends a "pathetic" amount on research and more will have to be done if agriculture is to meet the increasingly diverse needs of food production, biofuels, non-food crops and the environment. That was the clear...

Pressure mounts to get precision nitrogen right: understanding precision nitrogen application technology may seem daunting, but doing so could pay dividends. Precision farming consultant Clive Blacker explains what's available and how it could benefit your business.(FERTILISER 2: REMOTE SENSING)
March 8, 2008... Rising fertiliser prices, environmental regulations and the revision of RB209 mean the pressure to apply nitrogen fertilisers correctly and keep accurate records will continue to grow. Good farm management is practised on many farms, but...

Get the best from new technology: improvements to the high-tech measuring equipment used at tag's Silsoe Spray Applications Unit will help devise essential guidelines on the use of air induction spray nozzles. Peter Hill reports.(MACHINERY: SPRAYER NOZZLES)
March 8, 2008... Bringing agronomists, advisers and spray researchers into the same fold is providing better, more informed advice to farmers on crop-spraying technology and how best to use it, according to The Arable Group consultancy. The organisation's...

Air-inclusion jets add to spray armoury: spray nozzle manufacturers are keeping up the pace of product development by filling gaps in their range with new nozzles and accessories to give sprayer operators the widest possible choice of application technique. Peter Hill rounds up the latest introductions.(MACHINERY: SPRAYER NOZZLES)
March 8, 2008... INCLINED FAN RANGE Technology developed jointly by Hypro-EU and Syngenta in the development of the Amistar nozzle has been used to develop a complete range of air-inclusion jets covering a wide range of application rates, working speeds...

My kind of tractor--a cheap one: Stephen Carr yearns for much simpler--and inexpensive--machinery.(CARR'S CORNER)
March 8, 2008... "When it comes to being mean about machinery expenditure I set the standard. For years I submitted my farm accounts to the government's Annual Farm Income Survey and the standout figure for my farm was, unfortunately, not the profit I had...

Disease scoring needs a rethink: traditional methods may be replaced, says Nigel Padbury.(Podium)
March 8, 2008... "Along with genetics, plant physiology and environment have long been recognised as contributory factors to disease resistance. Now breeders and growers are looking at how these factors work together in the field, which means our traditional...

Over the hedge is back again.(ON-LINE BRIEFING)
March 8, 2008... Plagued by pigeons? You're not alone as a visit to the Over the Hedge diary on FWi will show. Relaying activities on Farmers Weekly's eight Barometer farms, OTH began last autumn and reopens this spring with the spotlight on seven new...

Window on the web.(ON-LINE BRIEFING)
March 8, 2008... Growers and advisers keen to keep up to date with the latest plant protection products can now access a host of information via a new online database. The website, www.plantprotection.co.uk, replaces the annual e-UK Pesticide Guide CD-ROM...

FWi hit parade.(ON-LINE BRIEFING)
March 8, 2008... Crops' website (www.fwi.co.uk) averages over 250,000 visits a month. Below are the five most popular arable stories for the past fortnight. Unsurprisingly, as the spring fertiliser campaign got under way, higher input prices dominated two...

Cut inputs and see profits fall.(VIEWPOINT)
March 8, 2008... The more expensive something becomes the more likely it is that we will use less of it. Prime candidates for arable farmers include nitrogen, P and K fertilisers, agchems, diesel--in fact just about anything used to establish, nourish and...

Hiding behind the complications of high grain prices.(JUSTIN MCDONALD'S DIARY)
March 8, 2008... MONDAY * Each week seems to start with a report of wheat prices breaking new records. The most exciting action seems to be in the USA, where a new record price for spring wheat was set this morning on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange. ...

Crop protection products' key role in feeding the world: Dominic Dyer is the new chief executive of the Crop Protection Association. Crops quizzed him on some key topics the sector is having to face.(PERSPECTIVE)
March 8, 2008... What do you perceive as your biggest challenges in your new role, and how might your experience with the Food and Drink Federation help? My time with the Food and Drink Federation means I am very familiar with policy and background, in the...

Opportunity knocks in a volatile future: arable farming is set for some big changes over the next decade--and some great prospects, too, says the head of one of the UK's leading farming companies. Robert Harris reports.(YOUR BUSINESS)
March 8, 2008... To a company like Velcourt--and any arable outfit that relies on farming other people's land for a living--the unprecedented cereal and oilseed price rises are something of a mixed blessing. The extra income is hugely welcome, boosting...

Market surge has been a blessing, but is it near the end? The surge in world market prices for cereals and oilseeds has been a boon to UK arable farmers. But for how long?(WHEAT PRICES)
March 8, 2008... Tight supplies and falling stocks, coupled with rising demand in emerging economies and from a growing biofuels industry, are driving wheat prices ever higher. Or so it seems. After a grim decade for most farmers in the UK, it's tempting...

Get in early to beat sclerotinia: after two bad sclerotinia years in Scotland and England, Paul Spackman looks at how similar experiences can be avoided this season.(SCLEROTINIA CONTROL)
March 29, 2008... Apply fungicides early before sclerotinia gets established. That's the clear message from experts, who warn that another bad year for the disease could be on the cards if optimum spray timings are missed. "There's potentially a lot of...

Avoid 'just-in-case' spray programme: pyrethroid-resistant pollen beetles are an increasing threat to UK oilseed rape crops, but avoiding unnecessary spraying could reduce the risk of the problem getting worse, as Paul Spackman discovers.(POLLEN BEETLE)
March 29, 2008... Do you routinely tank mix a cheap pyrethroid with oilseed rape fungicides "just in case"? If so, it's likely you are selecting for pyrethroid-resistant pollen beetles and unnecessarily adding to a potentially serious problem, says Jon Oakley of...

Five easy ways to reduce downtime and benefit from a speedier workrate: reducing the amount of 'downtime' when spraying is crucial if you're going to make the most of available spray days and apply fungicides at the right time. Paul Spackman gets some tips on how to improve efficiency.(SPRAYING EFFICIENCY)
March 29, 2008... Typically in the UK, less than a third (28 days) of the key spraying period March to May has suitable weather for spraying, according to Syngenta. Cutting the amount of time spent filling sprayers, handling containers and travelling between...

Higher prices justify control: wheat growers could have more reason to spray for eyespot this season, as Paul Spackman discovers.(MANAGING EYESPOT)
March 29, 2008... Early sowing and relatively damp, mild weather last autumn/winter mean many crops could be at greater risk from eyespot, says Scottish Agricultural College plant pathologist, Fiona Burnett. "There were reasonable levels of inoculum about...

Strob fungicide differences in net blotch control: net blotch resistance to strobilurins appears to differentially affect commonly-used actives. Mike Abram reports.(BARLEY DISEASE)
March 29, 2008... French field trials suggest the strobilurin fungicide pyraclostrobin is unaffected by the most commonly found mutation in the barley disease net blotch. But that doesn't appear to hold true for all strobilurin fungicides. Net blotch...

Investment fundamental to profit: should you, and where can you, upgrade fungicide programmes this season? Mike Abram finds out.(FUNGICIDE SPEND)
March 29, 2008... Invest more in fungicides, reap higher profits. It is an easy message for manufacturers and distributors to suggest. But it's equally easy to think "they would say that, wouldn't they?". But dig a little deeper and the argument appears to...

Disease-free crops cut greenhouse gas emissions: fungicides help slow climate change, new research shows. Mike Abram reports.(FUNGICIDES)
March 29, 2008... Maximising disease control not only protects profits, but also looks after the environment, new research has found. A DEFRA-funded study, using data from the HGCA Recommended List trials, has shown that, with current UK wheat varieties,...

The Agronomist: maximising your cereal yield potential; At high grain prices, increasing fungicide dose makes sense.
March 29, 2008... It is often said that fungicide dose is not correlated with grain price. This was the case when grain prices were around [pounds sterling]50-60/t as it was important to optimise yield by controlling disease with the best available chemistry and...

Seven-day spray intervals to be norm: controlling potato blight could prove a bigger challenge than usual this season, Andrew Blake discovers.(POTATO BLIGHT)
March 29, 2008... Potato growers will need to be on their toes this season, given the high potential inoculum, a clear shift to a more aggressive strain of the disease and slight question marks over how effective some of the newer, non-phenylamide fungicides may...

Variety choice the key to successful control: we now know enough to significantly reduce the risk of ergot contamination in cereals. Sarah Henly reports.(ERGOT)
March 29, 2008... Ergot has not been a serious problem for two seasons, thanks to warm, dry springs. But with millers and maltsters rejecting grain containing any elongated, black fungal bodies, you can't drop your guard. With the development of DNA...

Telescopics will play a dual role well: a novel concept is often only accepted when something similar arrives. So, is the idea of a telescopic handler that can work as a tractor about to take off? Peter Hill reports.(MACHINERY: HANDLERS)
March 29, 2008... Until now, the Italian handler manufacturer Merlo has been paddling a lone canoe with its Multifarmer, the telescopic handler that thinks it is also a tractor. Despite that, the company has had some success, as the Multifarmer accounts for...

'Compact' kit is now even smaller.(MACHINERY: HANDLERS)
March 29, 2008... Merlo has developed a smaller version of its Multifarmer handler to broaden the appeal of the "two for one" concept. The Compact is lighter and smaller (see preceding page for specifications) being 25cm (10in) narrower at 2m (6ft 6in) wide...

Redesign cuts running costs.(MACHINERY: HANDLERS)
March 29, 2008... Engineering a reduction in running costs was one of the key objectives for New Holland engineers when they set about designing replacements for the rear-engined LM-A handlers built in partnership with Manitou. By reducing heat-related...

Drive choice.(MACHINERY: HANDLERS)
March 29, 2008... With some operators preferring a traditional gearbox and torque converter transmission, while others like hydrostatic drive, telehandler manufacturers are beginning to offer a choice. JLG has updated its heavy-lift 3.5t and 4t handlers by...

Tailor-made to suit individual needs: despite a seemingly endless choice of disc, tine and press-ring combinations, there is always room for something a little different. Peter Hill reports.(MACHINERY: CULTIVATORS)
March 29, 2008... As a producer of almost bespoke cultivation implements, Richard Watkins is making a name for himself as someone who is prepared to meet the whims of growers who believe only a certain tine, disc or press set-up will work on their farms. ...

Did anyone spot PM's U-turn? An outline draft of the PM's NFU speech leaves Stephen Carr lost for words.(CARR'S CORNER)
March 29, 2008... As one would expect from a politician like Gordon Brown, his speech at last month's NFU centenary dinner was perfectly pitched for the occasion and well received. However, in a journalistic coup for Crops, a transcript that purports to be of a...

Tracking spiralling potato costs: getting a grip on the figures will pay, says Phil Bradshaw.(Podium)
March 29, 2008... "Cost inflation is having a significant impact on potato production, so we at the British Potato Council are urging growers to ensure they have a comprehensive knowledge of their production costs. Figures from farm business consultant...

Slow burn rather than big bang.(BRIEFING)
March 29, 2008... As of next Tuesday (1 April), the new levy board for England--the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board--comes into being. This umbrella body will oversee the work of six new companies set up to carry out levy-funded activities, of...

FWi hit parade.(BRIEFING)
March 29, 2008... Crops' website (www.fwi.co.uk) averages more than 250,000 visits a month. Below are the five top arable stories for the past fortnight. It was the organic versus conventional debate that grabbed top spot, after a Kent farmer suggested...

Commitment to RTFO needed.(VIEWPOINT)
March 29, 2008... Way back in the autumn of 2005, then Transport Secretary Alistair Darling announced new measures to make road fuels greener. The Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation, he said, would start in April 2008 and, by 2010, would require 5% of fuel...

Volatility takes monotony out of wheat market.(JUSTIN MCDONALD'S DIARY)
March 29, 2008... MONDAY * "It is getting monotonous to keep reporting market volatility, but it continues," said the Croptrade Market Report from my local farmer's co-op. Oh yeah, who says so? Personally, I can't get enough of market volatility after 10...

Look to the market before climate: farmers have been asked to adapt to climate change, but adapting to the market is more important, argues Stephen Ramsden.(PERSPECTIVE)
March 29, 2008... There is no doubt that the UK climate is changing. But its effect on the arable sector in the relatively near future is less clear cut. Temperatures in central England have been recorded for longer than anywhere else in the world. A 2007...

'That sugar beet place' set to take on wider range: muddy boots arable research is set for a much-needed boost at an untapped centre of excellence in East Anglia, says its new director, Bill Clark.(PERSPECTIVE)
March 29, 2008... There is an agricultural research centre in England dedicated to applied research for UK farmers. Its staff are undisputed experts in their fields of work. The research centre contains up-to-the-minute facilities--molecular biology and...

Plans in place for sugar beet's future: the sugar beet sector is surrounded by uncertainty after swingeing beet price cuts and ongoing political uncertainty. Crops asked British Sugar's managing director, Gino De Jaegher, for his views on where we go from here.(YOUR BUSINESS)(Interview)
March 29, 2008... Figures show sugar beet will produce a significantly lower margin than other crops, particularly oilseed rape and cereals, which are expected to remain firm. Why should beet growers continue with the crop? Sugar beet historically has been a...

Now's the time to look for allies: shifting balances within supply chains means there has never been a better time to build partnerships, says a food marketing expert.(SUPPLY CHAIN COLLABORATION)
March 29, 2008... Over the past five years, the supply and demand equation has gone through a fundamental change, says David Hughes, emeritus professor of food marketing at Imperial College, London. Increasing volatility, and the risk it brings, has created...