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February crop report from ADAS

Summary
Winter 2013 was wet until mid-February. Rainfall was high and regular, maintaining soils at saturation point for most of the period resulting in widespread ponding in fields and localised flooding. Average cumulative rainfall since September was 535mm, which is 180mm (7 inches) more than the long term average, while air and soil temperatures were frequently below normal.

There was no significant further drilling after the end of November leaving winter crop planting around 20% lower than in 2012. Established crops grew only slowly in the wet and cold soils. Slugs continued to be problem for many and contributed to expected crop failures of oilseed rape area and wheat. A welcome drier period at the end of February has allowed some late drilling of wheat, early nitrogen applications to encourage crop growth and some overdue herbicides and fungicides. Attention is now switching to spring crop cultivations and drilling.

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Wheat
Slugs and waterlogged soils were the main problems in wheat crops over winter resulting in low plant populations, very slow crop growth and low tillering, and as a result about 10% of the drilled area is of questionable viability at the end of February. Insecticide and herbicide regimes for the autumn and winter period were disrupted with many crops not receiving any treatments. In most cases this will not be a problem as the aphid population and weed emergence was low, and applications will move to the spring. However, spring control of some weeds such as black-grass
may not be so effective. Disease levels are low.

Winter barley
Crops on light and medium soils generally established well and were less affected by slugs than wheat, but slow growth and development due to low temperatures and wet soils has reduced tillering. There is a strong relationship between tiller numbers and yield, so early nitrogen applications are underway in order to help maintain tillers.

Winter oilseed rape
Late drilling, wet soils, slugs and pigeons have caused serious problems in oilseed rape resulting in low plant populations, small plants and crop failures. A significant proportion of the planned area was not drilled and about 20% of the current area is of questionable viability of which about half will almost certainly be replaced by spring crops. Phoma is a particular risk on small plants, while light leaf spot is now increasing and both have required fungicide applications, however these have been disrupted and delayed by rain.

Spring crops
The recent settled spell has allowed some cultivation and drilling of the spring cereals and spring field beans, along with some very late winter wheat. Other spring crops such as oilseed rape, peas and linseed will not be drilled until soil temperatures increase.

1 March 2013

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