Agronomy

With the recent spell of unsettled weather, a complete contrast to February, progress has slowed out in the field. Crops have grown on well in the last few weeks with the rain helping to mineralise soil fertility along with washing in the fertiliser that was applied. All crops look to of benefited from what could have been deemed an early first application of nutrients back in mid-February, but the colour and progress of the crops has warranted it.

As we enter the last parts of March the winter barley and oilseed rape will be due there second dose of nitrogen along with any potash, phosphate and sulphur as soon as conditions allow. Maximising tiller numbers and health in winter barley is vital for yield potential, as the crop is known as a ‘Sink limited crop’ i.e it will only yield up to its ear number, spikelet set and grain weight regardless of conditions during the main grain filling period in June. So, fertiliser now is the main priority before crops switch to stem extension.

So, our job as agronomists and growers is to maintain as much yield potential as possible from the day of sowing until the start of June, and then it’s out of our hands and into the gods. With yield potential starting around 18-22t/ha we have a significant amount to play with, but most of this can be long gone by the 1st of June without to correct crop nutrition, weed, pest and disease control from day one which is all predominantly in our hands.

Winter oilseed however can be a tricky one. A balance of both source and sink is the key to high yields which is as we know, hard to manage and manipulate. Light interception to the lower canopy during pod fill is important, along with adequate crop nutrition and disease control at and after flowering. Leaf tissue tests are a vital part of understanding this, which should be taken from early stem extension onwards.

As winter crops come to the end of the foundation phase and start the construction phase is important to know and iron our any plant nutrient deficiencies using tissue tests. If the plant is compromised at this stage, yield potential in June could well be lower than we would like! So, let’s keep these crops, green, clean, and healthy!

-Richard Harris, Agronomist

For more information, please contact your agronomist.

Seed

Warmer weather has brought the rain, but soil temperatures are starting to increase. Remember, it should be consistently about 5 degrees for grass, 8 degrees for clover and 8-10 degrees for maize (6 if growing under plastic). Check your average soil temperature before making plans to drill, for best establishment.

The new herbage booklet it now out, please ask the seed team for a hard copy, or check out the website for an online version. Our range of mixes meet requirements for all situations, but we can also tailor a mix to make it bespoke to you.

We have plenty of stewardship options available. Stock is starting to come in, so we will be well placed for deliveries.

For those lawns looking like they need a bit of TLC, we have a range of mixtures, from the very fine lawns, to shaded areas and for areas that will be used a lot. Packed in 5 or 20kg bags, and available for delivery.

Maize drilling will soon be upon us, with soil temperatures starting to warm up. Soil conditions should be right before drilling commences, rather than drilling by date. Currently, it is the last year with the Korit bird repellent dressing on.

-Lucy Ford, Small Seed Manager

For further information please contact the Seed department on:

01243 755620 seed@bartholomews.co.uk

Grain

Markets look set to end this month more-or-less where they started, looking oversold a couple of weeks ago only to rally strongly in the last few days. Have we seen the end of the big sell- off ? It looks that way. UK farmers have plenty of grain left to sell so it’s been encouraging to see buyers active in most grades for the remaining old crop months. Keep in touch with your farm trader if you have parcels still to place.

March is always the time when crop forecasters start to look towards 2023-24 prospects. The International Grains Council were the first to publish their predictions for the 2023 -4 season and it is immediately apparent that world stocks are going to remain very tight next year. Forecasts at this stage take no account of crop failures yet to happen, so if we do see any concerns emerging over grain crops anywhere in the northern hemisphere expect the markets to react quicky. Friday 31st March sees the USDA join in, with their first go at predicting US corn plantings, and this will be an important early pointer to next year’s production.

-Richard Wright, Grain Manager

For further information please contact the Grain department on

01243 755650 or grain@bartholomews.co.uk

Fertiliser

European gas prices have softened causing a reduction cost of production for Ammonia and this is being reflected globally.

Urea markets remains static for the prompt short term positions, with buyers holding off to understand where the market direction will be heading to, however time is running out to cover outstanding usage requirements.

Bartholomews can offer new season terms for Granular Urea.

Please be mindful that new rules on the use of Inhibited Urea will apply for most farm application from 1st April 2024. It states that products containing Urea will need to be inhibited. This is driven by the government to ensure that emissions of ammonia are reduced to their legal target.

Phosphate & Potash markets remain stable.

-Colin Burton, Fertiliser Manager

For further information please contact the fertiliser department on:

01243 755630 or fertiliser@bartholomews.co.uk

Feed

Feed – Easter orders

Can all feed orders be placed in good time to guarantee delivery before and directly after the long Easter weekend. Where possible can all orders be dual dated to enable transport to plan loads effectively. May we take this opportunity to wish all our customers a very Happy Easter!

Reminder

There are 3 Bank Holidays in May this year, Monday 1st May, Monday 8th May and Mon 29th May, please keep this in mind when planning your feed requirements, we ask if you can please place your orders in good time around this period.

-Lavinia Jones, Feed Manager

To find out how our feed range is resulting in healthy birds with fewer medical bills please contact us on 01243755752 or our Game Feed Manager Craig Coughtrey on 07970 292211.

Crop Protection

Corteva are offering farmers and contractors a goodwill gesture of £200 towards the cost of sprayer parts purchased in conjunction with products containing Inatreq™ fungicide.

Register your interest in the Inatreq Stewardship Support Offer to ensure that you receive timely information about this Offer. For us to let you know when the Claim Submission Portal opens, please register your interest below. By registering interest there is no obligation to buy Inatreq. In the interim, hold onto receipts for sprayer parts purchased.Before purchasing or using products containing Inatreq active, we have asked farmers and contractors to follow Corteva’s best practice application advice.

To participate in the Offer, participants are required to provide proof of purchase of 20-litres of Corteva product containing Inatreq™ active fungicide (these are Univoq™, Peacoq™, Inconiq™, Questar™, Aquino™, Apaveq™ or Peqtiga™); and provide proof of purchase of any nozzle anti-drip diaphragms or pistons, pump diaphragms or a Ramsay box seal in alignment with the Corteva application advice. Once the Claim Submission Portal opens, this Offer will be limited to the first 5,000 successful claims made before the closing date of 31st August 2023.

Please apply via the Corteva website - www.corteva.co.uk/inatreqadvice

-Graham Phillippo, Crop Protection Manager

For more information please contact the Crop Protection department on 01243 755610 cropprotection@bartholomews.co.uk

March 2023 Newsletter