Spring drilling time is near in the traditional malting barley lands of Norfolk with one large estate just waiting for soil temperatures to rise and the weather to improve.

Farm manager Andrew Murdo at Wroxham Home Farms is preparing to drill 200ha plus of the spring barley variety Concerto destined for the Scottish distilling market.

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He is budgeting for a yield of 5.5-6.5t/ha on his abrasive sandy loam soils, with his best yield of 7t/ha achieved in 2014, but much depends on spring and early summer rainfall on this Norfolk light land.

Farm manager Andrew Murdo (left), grain merchant Matthew Adams (centre) and Matt Shand from Limagrain (right)

Mr Murdo has been growing Concerto since 2010 and the barley generally meets the distillers’ demands for a grain of under 1.65% nitrogen content.

“We are waiting for soil temperature to warm and a forecast for a good dry spell,” he tells Farmers Weekly.

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The 2,200ha estate some six miles north-east of Norwich specialises in growing malting barley, crisping potatoes and sugar beet, while also cropping winter wheat, oilseed rape, maize, rye, carrots and beans.

The Limagrain-bred variety Concerto will be sold to local grain merchants Adams & Howling and then is destined for malting by the Crisp Malting Group.