Steve Heard: Cranesbill treating throws up a word of warning

Suffice to say, I have a field of OSR of the same variety which gave me and many others concerns last year during late frosts (but which redeemed itself at harvest). Fortunately it only accounts for a small acreage, but within that, I have sprayed one field for cranesbill - with dire consequences.

Having suffered the plague of severe cranesbill in the past, I was keen to treat two fields in particular with the only product available, Fox (bifenox). The two fields were different varieties but only one has suffered and so as a word of warning, if you are thinking of doing anything similar next year please be sure to take new, up-to-date varietal advice.

Elsewhere the OSR all looks good and has provided a pleasant journey as I applied the second flowering fungicide this week. Perhaps my favourite variety at this stage is ‘Fashion’ which I watch with interest (not my usual pursuit, as anyone who sees me in the local hostelry clothed in dirty overalls will concur).

The gate is now closed on all the OSR until harvest following a decision not to apply a late foliar nitrogen this year, my thinking being most of the earlier applied granular will only now at this late stage become available following sufficient rain.

Away from the sprayer, I have managed to indulge in a little retail therapy. One of our combines has subsequently been updated to a newer 2009, Claas 570+. I find it amazing how someone has justified selling a machine after only 250 hours work, but I am very grateful to them none the less. Utilising the power of the internet, I have sold our old combine back to her home country and so she was last seen leaving our yard, bound for Germany.

The rain has now stopped again. If crops do not yield this year, it certainly will not be through a lack of available sunlight hours.

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