Every season brings its own challenges, and it is extremely important to plan well in advance which types of crop you wish to grow, their requirements for nutrition, weed control options and other key factors to ensure the best chance of growing a good crop.

Starting from the Soil up…

· Know your soil conditions. Regular sampling is the best way to keep it in good condition and ensure crop performance.

· Wherever practical or available, always use FYM on your cover crop areas. Not only is it a good nutrient source, but it also provides a valuable source of organic matter to help maintain soil structure.

· Remove any areas of compaction, whether caused by vehicles, foot traffic or poor drainage. Dig holes to assess the problem in known areas and use appropriate methods to relieve any compaction found.

· Ensure thorough mulching of previous crops. This makes residues easier to plough in and helps to speed the decomposition process.

· Plough a minimum depth of 6 inches, leaving a clean, level surface to work with.

· Please remember to observe all the relevant Cross Compliance guidelines that are now applicable. GAEC, NVZ and SMRs are all still applicable to cover crops.

Fertiliser

· Based on soil analysis we are able to provide nutrient advice and produce a nutrient plan for you.

· Granulated lime is a fast solution where pH is a problem.

· We are able to supply a full range of fertilizer products, from straights to blends.

· In situations where manures are not available, there are our special blends which will supply all the necessary nutrients for your game cover crops.

· A full range of foliar feeds and micronutrients are available, should they be required for the growing crop.

· As well as straights and blends we are able to offer a full range of fertilizer products to suit your cover crop needs.

Drilling

· Soil conditions are far more important than calendar date.

· Crops that are drilled into unfavourable conditions, or too early, will always be at a disadvantage.

· Crops, such as kale, mustard, linseed etc can be at greater risk to flea beetle attack if they do not grow strong early on. Each season is individual, and the correct soil temperature and conditions are vital.

· Please refer to the chart for individual crops sowing rates, their depths and widths.

· Wherever possible/practical, the majority of crops benefit from being sown in wider, approximately 15 inch rows. Nearly all modern cereal drills are capable of doing this, by either special adapters or a simple pipe tracing and blocking exercise. Please try to do this if you can. Crops that are too thick can have lodging problems and may present other difficulties later in the season.

· Ensure accurate depth. Planting an individual crop is straightforward enough, but when planting a combination of crops, maize, sorghum, millet etc, it is advisable when possible/practical to sow the maize first and then over drill the other elements.

· Ensure good seed to soil contact. Try and leave a fine level and firm finish. Consolidate with ring rollers. Try not to use heavy flat rolls as they can contribute to soil erosion by increasing rainwater run-off risks.

· If using pre-emergence herbicides, then a level, firm, clod- free surface is very important.

Weed Control

· Good weed control is very important for a successful crop.

· If you are unsure of your programme or have any particular problems, please contact us before you drill. Due to the withdrawal of some products and the nature of some of the mixtures, it is very important to have a clear herbicide programme before you start.

· Stale seedbeds are a well-established method of weed control and we would recommend that you use them wherever possible, particularly where a mixture is to be sown and another weed control is not possible.

· For more specific advice, please call us and we will be happy to advise on each individual situation.

· Where pre-emergence weed control is to be used, please ensure an adequate covering of settled soil over the seed.

Gamecover Maize

Wherever possible always plough for the new crop, as Maize Eyespot and Fusarium can be serious problems given the right conditions and ploughing down the old crop residue as soon as possible will help to minimise disease carry over. Maize is very sensitive to pH; if it is below 6 then this needs to be addressed – a soil test should be carried out if unsure. Seedbeds need to be worked to produce 6 inches of tilth and be compaction free. Maize needs a consistent soil temperature of 8 degrees to grow properly. When making the decision to drill, please ensure that the risk of frost is past which this year means from mid-May onwards. Please ensure to sow at the correct depth (please see chart). Seed rate is also important as reducing this can have a positive impact upon standing ability. If grown with other crops, it is best to drill the elements separately ensuring that each one is at the correct depth, which may mean drilling twice. Plan your herbicide programmes before you sow your crop, taking into account any known problems or limitations if the maize is to be sown as part of a mixture. Sown as a straight crop, maize presents a good opportunity to use some very strong weed control options.

Sorghum

Sorghum shares the same tillage requirements as maize and is equally as sensitive to pH but there are some very important differences.

Sorghum requires a consistent soil temperature of 14-15 degrees, which is a lot higher than maize. It is a very common mistake to sow the crop before these temperatures are reached. In a typical year, this probably will not be until early June.

Correct drilling depth is also critical, again taking mixture requirements into account. Herbicide programmes within the sorghum crop require some extra thought as grass weed control is not possible. If there are any known grass weed problems and the crop is still to be sown, effective use of a stale seedbed is vital. In some cases, choosing a different product may be the best option for controlling weeds.

Speak to our team today.

Call 01243 755610

Email: seed@bartholomews.co.uk

Sowing and growing gamecover