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Grain aphids have to be controlled
Many growers are now resigned to the fact that little or no planting will happen between now and next year. Some may chance mucking in crops, but the results next harvest will probably mirror the planting conditions.
Planting now is only sensible if you're sure it will turn profit
The way the last number of weeks have turned out, and considering the forecast for the next few days, it appears this backend may well be another very wet one.
Long-term leasing can be a profitable option
The heavy rain that fell last week was slow to drain away, indicating that soil is at, or near, full water capacity. Planting opportunities from now on will be limited and growers should think carefully about planting into poor conditions. Many growers who took advantage of the limited spraying conditions last week were forced to plunge through very wet tramlines in spots.
Take action to counteract pest attack on sown crops
The weather over the past week has put a halt to field work in all but the driest of fields. Crops are now emerging, with many coming up in the space of 14 days.
Excellent management crucial for winter crops
The wheat acreage planted to date will make up the bulk of what will be sown this year. Additional acreage may come from maize, potato or beet ground.
It's make your mind up time
Some progress was made with planting last week. Growers in the north east were not as affected by rain as growers in the south. In fact, many of these growers welcomed some moisture as it helped to soften up the hard stubble ground.
Enjoy weather while it lasts
It was a pleasure to be out on farms last week. The fine weather made the job so much easier and the general mood of people had improved no end..
Meet seed standards when sowing crops
The prolonged dry spell came to an end over the weekend, with most places getting some rain. Surface conditions up to last weekend were excellent but ground underneath is still on the wet side. To date, cultivated land needed time to dry between primary cultivation and sowing to achieve a good seedbed.
Maintain seeding rates
As the harvest nears completion, growers are collating figures and assessing this year's financial damage. It's true to say many will not have enough grain to clear their bills at merchants. The degree to which bills are carried over from this year to the next will be offset somewhat by the demand for straw, although many of the late-sown and late-harvested crops have very little straw compared to the earlier-sown cereals.
Forum to provide guidance
Despite some poor yield results from last week's harvesting, there is huge relief that the crop, or at least almost all of the crop, will be harvested with good overhead conditions.
Breaking News
- 03:12 Health care reforms vote in Senate
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Top stories from Friday, 20.11.09
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Top stories from Friday, 20.11.09
- 03:12 Health care reforms vote in Senate
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Columnist Comments
• Kevin Myers: Armistice Day poppycock threatens our free speech
They started wearing the poppy on the BBC last week, midway through October, nearly a month before Armistice Day. They also ambushed the British National Party (BNP) leader Nick Griffin.
• Ian O'Doherty: All hail Xenu. Or something
The Cult of Scientology is having a really, really bad week. They have been found guilty of fraud in France, and slapped with a large fine -- although given how expert they are at bilking money from the gullible morons who buy into their claptrap, they shouldn't have any problem raising it.
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