Spring Review

Spring is late this year, according to the National Trust, delayed by cold weather during the winter and the driest February for thirty years.  But it is now gathering pace with hedgerows bursting into leaf, daffodils in full bloom and blossom beginning to brighten up the drab winter countryside.

            The recent mild and wet weather has brought growth to farm crops too, although it has been more difficult to get on the land.  Sowing last autumn went very well into fine seedbeds with enough rainfall after the drought of summer for cereals to establish.  The area of winter barley is probably a little higher than the year before but the area of winter wheat may be down.  This is partly due to a lack of break crops giving a good entry for winter wheat since the area of oilseed rape has been so drastically reduced due to the prevalence of flea beetle.

            As harvest was early, there was the opportunity to sow rape in good time in the hope it might establish before the flea beetle could attack, but dry soils delayed germination so some crops were lost to the beetle.  There are hybrid varieties available that seem to establish better, but they are expensive so many farmers stick to the cheaper alternative.  However, there are some good crops around, now being attacked by pigeons; it seems a never ending struggle!

            Cereal crops tiller out and the number of tillers has an influence on yield, especially if the crop was thin to start with.  Wheat can grow tillers in the spring but barley is more reliant on autumn tillers so growers are now tending to apply an autumn fungicide to control mildew and rust to prevent loss over winter.  There are some excellent crops of winter barley coming into spring.  Many winter wheat crops look well too, especially those grown on good fertile soils.

            Inflation in input costs, particularly nitrogen fertiliser, has led to farmers looking to reduce escalating investment in their crops.  Applying urea rather than ammonium nitrate is one option as it is cheaper, but there are concerns about loss due to volatilisation causing ammonia gas emissions into the atmosphere.  Defra has proposed that Red Tractor assurance should adopt a standard that only stabilised urea can be applied after 31st March.  That is urea that has been treated with a urease inhibitor that slows hydrolysis and thus reduces potential ammonia emissions.  The restriction, that would last until 15th of January and then start again on 1st April, was due to be introduced this year but, such are the supply issues and price volatility of nitrogen fertiliser, that it has been delayed until 2024.

            The other major trend towards lower input costs is a move from autumn to spring drilling, as winter cereals are generally higher yielding but also more expensive to grow.  At one time the ratio was 80:20 autumn to spring planting, even 90:10, but it is now nearer 50:50.  Spring cereals require fewer inputs and are generally higher quality, notably milling wheat and malting barley, the premium offsetting the lower yield.  With a shorter growing season, they are also more vulnerable to adverse weather but this year the dry February allowed early drilling into good seedbeds.  Crops are now established and are growing away well.

            Where fields are to be sown in the spring, farmers are urged to grow cover crops to prevent overwinter soil erosion and diffuse pollution of watercourses.  A green manure can soak up nitrogen in the soil so it becomes available to the next crop whilst mixtures including legumes can enhance fertility.  However, such mixtures are expensive and may take some getting rid of when preparing a spring seedbed, so some farmers are reluctant to grow them.  A cheaper and easier option is mustard that will take up nitrogen and die back in winter, but does little to improve soil structure.

            There may be some break crops that have yet to be planted such as peas or linseed but they account for a relatively small area.  Crops for the anaerobic digestion plant near Andover are still popular, winter rye and maize.  Rye has the advantage that it is cut before blackgrass has a chance to set seed and is thus a useful weapon in the fight to keep the weed under control.  Maize will not be planted for some weeks yet.

            Another major activity in March on those farms that still keep sheep is lambing.  There was concern last autumn that a shortage of grazing for flushing might limit the number of lambs conceived but the results of scans were generally optimistic.  Winter forage was also a problem for some, as the establishment of stubble turnips and leys and thus yield last summer was delayed by drought, but most seem to have scraped through.  Lambs may be seen gambolling in the pasture but it is too early to get accurate reports of lambing success although there is an air of quiet confidence.

            As daylight lengthens and the growing power of the sun warms the land, crops look well with good prospects for the seasons to come.  However, there is still a long time to harvest and there may well be another drought this summer.  This could be serious in those areas where crops, especially vegetables, are irrigated.  Nearer in time is the old adage ‘beware the blackthorn winter’!