May 2023 Newsletter
Agronomy
Sun sun, glorious sun! What a change the last few weeks have been. Wall to wall sunshine has help most catch up with many jobs that were pilling up. With the last of the spring crops such as maize and fodder beet going into moisture we should be set for the next month or so before we’ll require rain once again.
The earlier drilled spring barley and oat crops seem to be pulling away now and seem worth the risk of the early drilling, approaching GS31 and looking full of potential. Early April drilled crops are not far behind and still holding good yield potential going into June, smothering the ground nicely. However, I do fear the middle-end of April drilled crops do not seem to be tillering and filling the gaps like we’d like. These could well be compromised going into the summer. The March and April rain has brought an increased disease pressure to the barley crops, noticeably rhynochosporium and net blotch, the two main yield robbing diseases in barley. Clear differences can be seen between crops which are following barley or wheat last season. With the diseases living on the trash of last years crops and expressing itself with the damp march conditions. A robust early fungicide will be required to keep these diseases under control with consideration of variety choice for next season being equally key, making the most of the variety genetics to keep our crops clean, green and healthy.
The change in weather, has brought a mild calmness to disease pressure. With septoria still very evident in the bottom of the crop, the T1 product choice and dose rate will start to show itself in the coming weeks. Without the change in weather, I’m not sure we could have successfully held the Septoria back, even with our new curative chemistry, so this sunshine is well worth its weight in gold in more ways than one.
For the earlier maturing crops such as winter barley and oilseed rape, the timing of this sunshine couldn’t be better, both crops have all but finished flowering and are now focusing solely on grain and pod fill. It certainly could be a bumper year of a few of these crops on high potential sites if the weather continues.
-Richard Harris, Agronomist
Please contact your Bartholomews agronomist for more information.
Seed
We are launching our autumn seed campaign on 13th June – ready to quote for your autumn cereal seed requirements. Early enquiries will benefit from the full discounts available. Please contact the seed department or you agronomist.
Throughout June we have our open days, where we look forward to showing you our core portfolio of wheats and some of the newer developments we are monitoring.
As we leave May, the delayed maize drilling is well underway. Soil temperatures are now consistently above the required 8 degrees, and finally a bit more sun in the forecast we have the required warmth. Game maize doesn’t need to be drilled as early and can be delayed into mid-June to spread the drilling period. Our late game maize can offer a useful option in situations where a full cob isn’t required.
We have several later sown options that can go in up to the end of June. Sorghum is a key option, that requires the soil to be at 14-15 degrees. We have a useful article with the options on our news page on the website – or ask your local agronomist or the seed team.
After the wet spring, some grass leys might need rejuvenating. An overseed will offer a short-term boost, with minimal interruption to the use of the field. However, a full re-seed shouldn’t be overlooked, particularly if the sown species has fallen below 50% of the overall sward or production has fallen.
Stubble turnips and forage rape are useful crops to help fill a forage gap. With their flexible sowing dates, they provide quality forage for grazing both sheep and cattle. This year we have new turnip Hector to try, boasting high utilisation. We have good availability of seed ready for those earlier drilling slots.
-Lucy Ford, Small Seed Manager
Please contact the Seed department on: 01243 755620 seed@bartholomews.co.uk
Grain
After a brief period of markets tracking sideways, global markets have taken a hit once again, the latest catalyst for which is the news that Russia is set to cut its export tax. The solid base at £190 Nov LIFFE seems like a distant memory.
Beyond the steady stream of developments in Russian and Ukraine, both battlefield and politics there is bearish news aplenty for anyone looking at the Chinese wheat harvest progresses, and early reports suggest a much-improved yield after last year’s poor crop. With that harvest still in its early stages at about 10% complete, wheat is temporarily displacing corn in the feed ration there, which may be what is behind the postponement/cancellation of up to 800,000mt of nearby corn shipments from Brazil and US.
US corn planting have also progressed and are well done, a dry forecast into the middle of June is not spooking anyone at the moment. One box ticked for this year’s global grain dynamic.
At home, the crop 22 wheat S&D looks increasingly burdensome with March feed usage cut below estimates and despite a small increase to Human/Industrial usage carry over stock has been increased to 2.44mmt, a 32% increase year on year. With a promising looking crop on its way heavy domestic stock is likely to continue into next season, big exports are needed to balance the books.
This time last year we were searching for the top, now we are doing the opposite and with significant demand into drought ridden Spain surely the floor is not too far away.
We still have very strong markets for most grades of milling wheats domestically – the consistently high premiums available for the best samples has been one of the highlights of the season and this looks set to continue into new crop. Call your farm trader or the Office if you want to take advantage of these movement slots.
-Edd Britton, Grain Trader
Please contact the Grain department on: 01243 755650 grain@bartholomews.co.uk
Crop Protection
Oil Seed Rape crops will need to be desiccated this month, consider using a pod sealant prior to the glyphosate treatment. The current product supply situation and pricing is stable pricing which is a vast improvement on last year’s position. Buy only your requirements for this early market as we understand prices could potentially fall again in the autumn.
-Graham Phillippo, Crop Protection Manager
Please contact the Crop Protection department on: 01243755610 or cropprotection@bartholomews.co.uk
Feed
Focus on Maize Additive
For your Maize additive requirements this season we are pleased to offer growers the benefits of Pioneer 11C33 Rapid React and 11A44
The previous version of Pioneer Brand 11C33 took up to 6 weeks for the Lactobacillus buchneri strain to generate the compounds that made the silage aerobically stable. The rapid acting strain of L. buchneri in 11C33 Rapid React ensures the maize silage is aerobically stable from as soon as seven days after ensiling.
Pioneer 11C33 Rapid React, Reduces Aerobic Heating, Reduces Fermentation Losses.
Fermentation Improvement: Where there is a forage shortfall (reduce clamp shrinkage) when feeding is to commence a week after ensiling.
Where heating losses are the major cause of energy loss then Pioneer 11A44 has proven to dramatically reduce heating in maize and crimped grain silages by suppressing yeast and moulds.
Pioneer 11A44 Reduces Aerobic Heating
Strong Heating Challenge: Slow feed-out rate, lack of compaction, long chop length, summer feed-out, high dry matter situations, leaf disease on crop.
-Lavinia Jones, Feed Manager
Please contact the feed department to discuss your requirement on: 01243755752 or feed@bartholomews.co.uk
Fertiliser
CF launched its new season campaign on Wed 24th May and promptly withdraw terms on Friday 26th May. With the recent falls in natural gas prices, has led to a substantial reset in values from both UK & European suppliers.
Bartholomews are offering new season terms on Urea, Limus Protected Urea, and on the quality Ammonium Nitrate compounds ASN 26N + 37SO3, NS 27N + 12SO3 and the NEW DS+ 24N + 14SO3.
Sales have been strong for these products; 3 cargoes are sold to date with replacement values higher. Please be mindful forward values for Natural gas in Europe for Winter 2023 to Spring 2024 are more than double our current levels.
DS+ 24N + 14SO3 contains DS Nergetic Dynamic with Duo Pro Dynamic
Protects all nutrients in the fertiliser from leachate losses.
Contains a Nitrific inhibitor. Increases NUE.
Nitrogen use efficiency is the relationship between total nitrogen input compared to nitrogen output.
The greater the NUE, the more nitrogen is taken up by the crop and therefore the returns on the investment are greater, due to less wasted nitrogen through losses.
-Simon Joyce, Fertiliser Trader
For further information please contact the fertiliser department on:
01243 755630 or fertiliser@bartholomews.co.uk