Turn dreams to reality

I AM not usually at a loss for words, but this month there seems little change. Conditions remain very wet and very little field work has been done or is possible. My job as a consultant, though, has changed - my role being more akin to counsellor at the moment.

I have always been on the optimistic side and believe that, not only does hope spring eternally, it also must spring internally. Having a positive approach is essential if you are to move forward. It is not just a question of hoping, either, that is not enough on its own. I have often hoped to win the lottery but in truth the money would be better saved and invested.

Planning is required if hopes and dreams are to be turned into reality. I am often told that things are so uncertain that planning is a waste of time. Many of the businesses that I am involved with plan to make a profit, they plan to keep the bank manager happy, they plan to change, they plan to survive. Planning is not a once a year chore but is a continuous process and because they have a plan they know what the impact will be of rising fuel costs, rising fertiliser prices and the falling value of wheat.

Those who think planning is a waste of time often point to disaster, such as difficult harvest conditions in Canada, floods in Australia, lower plantings in the USA and China. I would not like to think that my survival was dependant upon the hope of misfortune being visited on other farmers. The people who prosper in these difficult times will be those who plan, who can cope with change and who can make changes to cope with new and difficult circumstances.

There has been some drilling during the last few weeks but more and more farmers are thinking of spring crops, with the result that seed prices are starting to rise. There are some quite attractive spring malting barley contract prices around and these must be worth looking at where winter barley has been missed.

There is still time, though, for winter wheat to be drilled and to produce reasonable yields. Seed rates for winter wheat need to be high, with the poor seedbed conditions. At a typical TGW of 45g and 95pc germination you would need to sow around 230kg/ha (16 stone/acre).

Slug activity is declining in very wet and cooler conditions but it is essential to keep checking as the slowly emerging crops will be particularly prone to damage.

Do not sow Baytan treated seed after the end of November. Any seed you have left should be stored in cool dry conditions - remember the rat and mice baits and it should be okay for use next autumn.

For spring sowing, home-saved seed, if available, is likely to be most cost-effective. If you have to buy seed, it may be a question of accepting what is offered. Established varieties will be cheaper, but some new varieties were added to the Recommended Lists announced recently. There are three new spring barley varieties, all with malting potential.

County is the highest yielding spring barley on the list. It is similar to Optic in agronomic characteristics, but out-yields it by some 5pc in the fungicide treated trials data. It also has better disease resistance than Optic (with the exception of yellow rust), and has the highest yields without fungicide of any spring barley on the list. To date its malting quality has not been as good as Optic, and it is rated 8, compared to Optic's 9.

Cellar and Pewter are the other two varieties, and both have yields 3pc above Optic. Cellar's malt extract potential is rated 9, and Pewter 8. A weakness on rhynchosporium and yellow rust for Cellar, and brown rust for Pewter are the only points that need watching. Obviously, the malting market is still undecided about these, but from the growing point of view all three varieties have high fungicide treated yields and good untreated yields.

In oilseed rape, Phoma leaf spot has increased considerably over the last two weeks and it is possible to find crops with 100pc of plants affected and multiple Phoma spots on the oldest 2-3 leaves. Light leaf spot is just beginning to be seen and small patches of plants with bleached spots or leaf margins should be investigated for signs of white spore droplets. Cabbage stem flea beetle hatch is now underway on early-drilled crops and approved pyrethroids can be tank-mixed with Phoma sprays if necessary.

Ironically, I must leave you with a hope, that you will have some drier weather to catch up on drilling and that you will have an enjoyable festive season. I trust you are planning to do both.