Crops articles from September 2007

Crops archives from September 2007

Take account of long-term results with variety choice: with harvest home across much of UK, was last season so unusual that any lessons from it are best forgotten? Not entirely, according to specialists Andrew Blake questioned.(TECHNICAL)
September 15, 2007... Wheat yields, according to both Recommended List data and on-farm results, were generally at least 10% down this year. But considering 2007 managed to cram nearly all weather extremes into one growing season they held up reasonably well,...

Barley brushes off extreme season with average yields.(HARVEST 2007)
September 15, 2007... In marked contrast to winter wheat varieties, winter barleys performed much as anticipated, though yields were slightly down on last year's. Of the 36 wheat varieties in HGCA RL trials, 27 delivered less than their long-term averages. Only...

Drought proves good for taller hybrids.(HARVEST 2007)
September 15, 2007... Last season was clearly atypical for oilseed rape, with most crops much shorter than usual. That meant taller varieties suffered no significant lodging and performed relatively well, particularly taller hybrids, such as Excel and RL...

Pre-ems key to beating blackgrass: is there any way back for farms blighted by resistant blackgrass? Paul Spackman visits an Oxfordshire unit to find out.(RESISTANT WEEDS)
September 15, 2007... What would you do if Atlantis resistance was confirmed on your farm? For at least 80 growers it is no longer a theoretical question, and the likelihood is many more will be facing it before too long. Couple that with the loss of IPU (limit...

Beating herbicide resistance: oilseed rape, a profitable crop in its own right, is now a vital weapon for growers seeking to tackle the threat of grass weeds, especially resistant strains of black-grass and ryegrass.(Focus On Weed Control in Rape)
September 15, 2007... Clean with rape As the industry braces itself for the impending loss of valuable active ingredients, eg isoproturon and trifluralin, using products like kerb Flo (propyzamide) effectively in rape crops becomes increasingly important....

Investing in quality and results: after 30 years, Kerb is a very well-known brand in UK agriculture, but that does not mean that anyone--least of all Dow AgroSciences take it for granted.(Focus On Weed Control in Rape)
September 15, 2007... In the past seven years, the company has invested heavily in independent trials to understand exactly how to get the best from this active ingredient which is such an important part of the UK arable farmer's armoury in the fight against weeds,...

Kerb Flo Helpdesk.(Focus On Weed Control in Rape)(Interview)
September 15, 2007... Good support is vital for any business and Dow AgroSciences Helpdesk is an essential link for farmers. "We have thousands of enquiries every year, and in peak months like May we can have over 60 calls a day," explains Jim Butchart Dow...

Boxworth lessons show how to get the best out of Kerb Flo: when Dow AgroSciences added Kerb Flo to its portfolio it took the opportunity to take a fresh look at how to get the best from the product.(Focus on Weed Control in Rape)
September 15, 2007... "The most important thing for a grower is to know that the product will work consistently," explains Rene Pollak, Broad Leaved Crop specialist at Dow AgroSciences. For Kerb Flo Dow AgroSciences went back to basics and invested in seven...

Keeping Water clean.([H.sub.2]OK? Keep it Clean)
September 15, 2007... Kerb-Flo is a vital tool in the fight against resistant grass weeds in the rotation, but recently it has been detected in surface water. "Kerb Flo is strongly adsorbed to soil particles, so good soil management is important," explains...

Kerb Flo beats resistant black-grass.(Focus on Weed Control in Rape)
September 15, 2007... After two successive years of trying different grass wed herbicides in winter oilseed rape, Lincolnshire grower Daniel King is convinced that that Kerb Flo is the best solution. His main weed problem is a heavy infestation of resistant...

Grassweed Initiative keeps growers on top of weed threat.(Focus On Weed Control in Rape)
September 15, 2007... For many years, Dow AgroSciences has been committed to not just selling products, but also providing underpinning expertise in the markets it serves. As part of the launch of its new chemistry, the company has launched the Grassweed Initiative....

Increasing broad-leaved weed threat.(Focus On Weed Control in Rape)
September 15, 2007... Competitive weeds, such as mayweeds, cleavers and the problematic sow thistle, are an increasing threat in oilseed rape. These weeds could be controlled with Galera (clopyralid and picloram) at the end of November. "Today's lower seed...

Formulation matters.(Focus On Weed Control in Rape)
September 15, 2007... Former sprayer operator of the year, agronomist, and LEAF farmer David Felce is clear about his preference for genuine Kerb Flo (propyzamide). "I look after about 10 farms and every year we have the same debate: 'can we save money with a...

Galera helpdesk.(Focus On Weed Control in Rape)(Interview)
September 15, 2007... Here are the answers to some common questions about Galera: Q What weeds does Galera control? Galera controls cleavers, mayweeds, sow thistle, seedling perennial thistle and groundsel. It can control some other weeds and growers should...

Protein better indicator of feed value: the specific weight value of feed wheat is of limited use to poultry producers; they may be more interested in protein, suggests Sarah Henly.(WHEAT FOR BROILERS)
September 15, 2007... Specific weight has been confirmed as an inadequate indicator of feed wheat quality, after a second phase of HGCA-funded research into poultry diets. Project leader, Elizabeth McCann, of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute in Northern...

What's on offer for post-emergence: the second part of the Crops guide to cereals weed control focuses on post-emergence options.(CEREALS WEED CONTROL)
September 15, 2007... PRODUCT LERAP USE IT FOR DON'T FORGET GRASSWEED ONLY Axial [Syngenta] 100g/litre None Blackgrass To use it in pinoxaden control and sequence with ...

Fungicides available for oilseed rape: crops profiles the options for oilseed rape disease control this season.(DISEASE CONTROL)
September 15, 2007... Fungicides available for oilseed rape Crops profiles the options for oilseed rape disease control his season PRODUCT LEAP USE IT FOR DON'T FORGET AMISTAR [Syngenta] B Good choice To...

Two-spray phoma strategy could pay: early spore release may mean two sprays are necessary. Paul Spackman reports.(OILSEED RAPE DISEASE)
September 15, 2007... If you are in a traditional phoma hotspot, such as southeast England, then spraying twice for the disease might prove a worthwhile investment this autumn, say experts. Spore release is likely to begin by the middle of September in that...

Diversification to the fore on Scottish unit: sound business management, determination to drive through necessary changes and a commitment to get stuck in were all qualities our judges saw in this year's three Farmers Weekly Arable Farmer of the Year finalists. Andrew Blake reports.(Terra)
September 15, 2007... * At first sight it seems Mike Forbes might have little time for the arable side of his highly diversified business just outside Dundee. But his obvious passion for every enterprise he runs from Omachie Farm, Kingennie, shows up in his...

New challenges embraced.
September 15, 2007... Go to www.fwi.co.uk/awards for more on our finalists * When your first stab at growing a novel crop is not 100% successful, double the area and make sure you obtain better harvesting kit. It's that sort of approach that typifies David...

Landowner satisfaction is key to planned expansion.(Terra's Arable Farmer of the Year)
September 15, 2007... * John Barrett's goal for the all-arable unit he has managed from Hill House Farm, Hedenham, Norfolk, since 2001 is an efficient contract farming business generating profits both for his employer, Sentry, and his landowners. But profit is...

It pays not to buy the latest models: does that big tractor really need to spend half the year sitting in a shed? Hiring would bring it on to the farm only when it's needed. Peter Hill reports.(MACHINERY: TRACTORS)
September 15, 2007... It's every tractor drive's dream--a brand-new machine with gleaming paintwork, a clean and tidy cab and all the latest technical toys delivered fresh from the factory every year. Just a pipe-dream? Not if it's a tractor used for a limited...

Have grain prices done their time? Traditional low grain prices have left Stephen Carr dubious of a long-term recovery.(CARR'S CORNER)
September 15, 2007... "Let's be honest, I'm not really fit to be let out to go arable farming in the current profitable climate. Ten years of alarmingly low grain prices have had a collective and debilitating effect on my confidence. I feel rather like one of...

Investing in farming's future; We must all do our bit to inspire the young, says Rob King.(Podium)
September 15, 2007... "At the tender age of 40-something, I still seem to be one of the young boys in the arable industry. As a graduate of the Schering Agriculture Trainee scheme in 1988, I was fortunate to have an excellent grounding in crop protection. I had...

New gateway profiles soil heroes.(BRIEFING)
September 15, 2007... If you're wondering whether there's untapped potential locked away in your soils, a new web-based resource may have the answer. The Soils Gateway (www.applie-dresearchforum.org.uk/soils) champions the soil-related achievements of more than 15...

FWi hit parade.(BRIEFNG)
September 15, 2007... No prizes for guessing latest information on commodity prices tops the hit parade of most popular arable stories on www.fwi.co.uk. Every month the site, which carries the latest news, views, advice and market prices, attracts over 200,000...

No tears if set-aside goes.(VIEWPOINT)
September 15, 2007... It might not be all over until the fat lady sings, but for set-aside the indications are that she is clearing her throat. A proposal by the EU Commission to set the set-aside rate at zero for this coming year's harvest looks, according to...

Soon I shall be sharing the profits with my landowners.(JUSTIN MCDONALD'S DIARY)
September 15, 2007... MONDAY * Harvest turned out to be disappointing in terms of yield and quality, but, frankly, with wheat prices at nearly [pounds sterling]180/t, who cares? OK, so by the time I'd finished combining the last of my wheat most of the Hagbergs...

Set-aside: it's time to say goodbye to farming's thorn: NFU president, Peter Kendall, explains why set-aside should be scrapped.(PERSPECTIVE)
September 15, 2007... Set-aside has well and truly outlived whatever usefulness it once had. With grain markets in turmoil and over-supply and mountains of grain a distant memory, the public would inevitably see farmers being paid not to produce as illogical and...

Fuel production: know the risks: can processing your own fuel on-farm help add value to oilseed rape? Perhaps--but you'll need to do your homework first, says Graham Redman of the Anderson Centre.(YOUR BUSINESS)
September 15, 2007... The new biofuels industry has already helped push commodity prices to new highs. But some farmers are trying to capture more value by setting up their own biodiesel refinery to process home-grown oilseed rape. Given the numerous pitfalls,...

It's time to grasp the 'green' Agenda: the national non-food Centre's grasping the green Agenda conferences, in conjunction with crops, offer growers specific content to help make the most of non-food crop opportunities. Crops outlines the areas growers could be interested in.(NNFCC CONFERENCE)(Conference news)
September 15, 2007... Renewable fuels and materials made of crops offer an exciting opportunity to develop more sustainable resources. UK renewable supply chains expand markets for crop material and can help cut our green-house gas emissions. For crop-derived...

Staggered implementation for Act: Suzie Horne finds out how the Companies Act 2006, the longest bill ever to pass through parliament, will affect farming companies.(BUSINESS)
September 15, 2007... If your business is run as a company, then you will face implications from the Companies Act (2006), which is being introduced in stages over the next two years. As well as bringing in new rules governing how companies operate, the Act...