What to do with the poor OSR crops this spring is the question if the week. This time Agrii give some good advice. There’s plenty of advice about at tge moment. Precisely what to do is the question. http://www.agrii.co.uk/blog/2013/02/15/osr-decision-making/
JAKE FREESTONE sampling his wheat field for residual nitrogen levels. If you don’t subscribe to Jakes YouTube channel quite simply – YOU OUGHT TO! M
So the early indications of autumn plantings of wheat are down 12%; barley down 9% and OSR down much less at 3%. Spring barley unurprisingly is expected to be up by circa 40%. I expect there will be a similar story for spring beans, Linseed may also be up. Good luck with that particular crop! Still cant help but think the OSR picture is bleaker than than the small decrease at 3%, as there are a lot of poor crops out there. I not really convinced they will all survive, so the figure could be over 5% – at least. Now that brings me to another hobby horse of mine, would the OSR crops be in better order had they followed winter barley in the rotation? Earlier harvest, more timely cultivations and earlier establishment. I accept the GM for winter barley is lower but the over farm margins may be better? Whilst we are on topic what about adding a pulse to the rotation? Lets consider rotational grassland too. Ok, i am going off topic and extreme here, arent I? Or am I? http://www.hgca.com/content.output/6438/6438/News/News/AHDB-HGCA%20publishes%20early%20snapshot%20of%20winter%20plantings.mspx
Well worth reading this piece, i have to say I really like the comment that “..we can learn a lot from organic production….” because its absolutely right, we can – and should. If you have not already done so I recommend you download the App from Agrovista. I have no commercial interest with Agrovista I just think its a useful tool.
http://www.niab.com/blog/post/47 This time Jim Orson of NIABTAG (one of my previous employers, incidentally) discusses two very important and topical issues. 1 – The implications if the excessive rainfall could have on soil nitrigen levels. 2 – Super Saturday at the Olympics. One of the subjects is both very important and topical, pottially could have serious implications for the next few months and years. The other subject is about soil nitrogen.
http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/bpts20/28/6#/doi/full/10.1080/07352680903173175 Useful article for your journal critique exercise.
With all the talk of Roundup resistant weeds, especially blackgrass, I think its worth looking into how the problem has come about.
This link from US is very informative, and well worth viewing.
Interesting article from The Guardian on how GMO could help to reduce obesity.
I notice this is written by the Environment reporter, a change in the direction of reporting?
http://m.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/mar/13/gm-food-genetically-modified-obesity?cat=environment&type=article
Although an American article the sentiment is the same for UK farmers. Seed stewardship is as important as the disposal of all pesticides.
As we are well aware the more pesticides that are thought to be polluting the environment; the greater the risk that they will be banned.
http://m.agrinews-pubs.com/mobile/articles/default.aspx?title=Official+emphasizes+importance+of+proper+treated+seed+disposal&id=4812&sid=50
Agronomy Man' blogs 