Any reductions in support payments arising from Brexit can be covered on most UK arable farms by improved crop performance, results from ProCam’s 4Cast service suggest.

The higher wheat yields of 10.4t/ha achieved by the top 25% performers in the company’s farm results database are 2.1t/ha above the Defra average wheat yield figure of 8.3t/ha, making them worth an additional £315/ha at current grain prices.

That means being in the top quartile allows you to more than recoup the current support payment of £218/ha, says ProCam’s managing director John Bianchi, who adds that there is a bit of headroom for growers who are at the top of their game.

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“It is do-able and there is hope beyond Brexit,” he points out. “If you want to be less dependent on support, or know that you can survive without payments, it’s all about raising yields and maximising on-farm performance.”

Attention to detail

The main factor that differentiates the top performers from the rest is attention to detail, rather than much lower variable costs or vastly different farming systems, he reveals.

“That attention to detail occurs at an individual field level and is applied to every decision that has to be made,” he adds. “It’s about better timing and top management.”

Analysis of the 2017 4Cast results shows that wheat yields averaged 9.2t/ha, but the range was 5.81-11.9t/ha.

“First wheats were the most profitable, but winter oilseed rape was right up there and challenging for the top spot,” reports head of crop production, Nick Myers.

“In fact, when first and second wheats were put together, oilseed rape was more profitable than wheat.

“So despite some growers losing faith with the oilseed rape crop, it is more than holding its own on other farms.”

4Cast findings (harvest 2017)

Previous crop

A closer look at the impact of the previous crop on performance showed that rapeseed yields were lower after spring barley – useful information for planning profitable rotations, Mr Myers points out.

“We’ve seen a rise in spring barley as a means of dealing with blackgrass, so rather than replace it, growers should be adapting their oilseed rape agronomy accordingly,” he says.

One reason for the reduced yields could be lower levels of residual nutrients than after winter wheat, he suggests, as could the slightly later drilling date of an oilseed rape crop following spring barley.

“It may be worth looking at the use of a biostimulant or supplementing nutrients in the oilseed rape crop,” he says.

Delayed drilling

In the same way, delayed drilling of winter wheat – another way of dealing with blackgrass – need not mean lower yields.

“Average drilling date has shifted by 10 days, from 2 October to 12 October, in the last six years, but yields haven’t fallen on our 4Cast farms. It seems that any yield penalty from later drilling is less than that of blackgrass infestations.”

In fact, the top 25% had a peak drilling date of after mid-October, while the majority of growers opted for early October.

“Later drilling does require more planning and management – from preparing the right seedbed to choosing the best variety and selecting the most appropriate seed rate. Again, attention to detail is key to success.”