Winter wheat and oats are growing well in the mild weather. There is some disease present but nothing to be unduly worried about at this stage. A well timed T0 on the wheat will be necessary, a sentiment echoed across the industry. A growth regulator will be applied to the JB Diego winter wheat and it will also give me a chance to tidy up the volunteer oats with Broadway Star (florasulam and pyroxsulam).

I have finished top dressing these crops with sulphate of potash. It took a few minor adjustments to the spreader while tray testing the machine to get an even pattern over the spread width. The manufacturer’s suggested settings don’t always give the desired results and the the benefits of tray testing cannot be understated.

The added sulphur in sulphate of potash will improve nitrogen use efficiency, especially on the lighter soils; this will give improved yield potential. Sulphur is recognised as an essential element for cereal production, however I’ve noticed its solubility and availability in fertilisers can vary substantially, as not all sulphur is soluble. Its addition to spring seed-beds is also important for the emerging plant’s growth. Soluble sulphur has become an integral part of spring cereal compounds, recognising its true importance.

Ideally, I want to be drilling spring barley from 10 March onwards on the lighter land; if the opportunity arises to start sooner, I will. The heavier ground further south can be drilled up to mid-April with very little yield loss. Admittedly what I call heavy is actually considered light by most.

The Frontier barley will be sown on the lighter land, as it has the ability to utilise nitrogen better, ideal on light land in a dry season. Propino barley will be sown on the later heavier ground. A combination of stiff straw and excellent yield potential even when sown later than preferred, make it better suited to this stronger land.