Steve Heard: Bright start to the month as new sprayer gets to work on OSR

Over the last few years I have relied on plant tissue samples to indicate any trace element deficiencies, but this year while we can afford to, I am comparing a higher input regime and hope the additional yield will cover the costs.

Our small acreage of second wheat and some backward looking oats have also received 42kg/N (a bag) and now await some warmer soils to stimulate further growth. All nitrogen fertilisers are again being applied using the Yara N sensor which I am convinced has help to even yields over the past two seasons.

My new sprayer has been busy too, we have cleaned up any OSR, dirty with some cleavers, thistles or mayweed, with post-emergence herbicide which has been tank mixed with a fungicide and trace elements. I’m hoping that by the time you read this, warmer weather will have allowed herbicide applications to be underway as we try to target any black-grass plants before they grow to nuisance status.

I’m a little loathe to talk about grain markets, the huge volatility over the last weeks will surely mean by the time my ramblings go to print all will have changed again. Suffice to say I’m glad to have now sold virtually all last season’s crop and all myintended pre-season commitment for the coming harvest.

But it’s not only selling decisions that are such a gamble, troubles in north Africa seem unlikely to settle pre-harvest and so we have decided to start stocking diesel, three wagon loads over recent weeks have averaged 61p per litre.

I’m just back from a field trip to Twickenham, well done England.

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