Steve Heard: Unplanned OSR contamination brings fortunate results

Already we have applied post petal fall liquid nitrogen combined with a final strobilurin fungicide to the oilseed rape. Driving through our different OSR varieties grown for seed, my money so far is on the oldest variety Castille to outperform the other newer conventional varieties it’s compared next to. But OSR always seems impossible to prejudge and the harvest yields will decide.

It is now apparent some of our own saved OSR seed was contaminated with a second variety, which has grown considerably taller. I would like to tell you we were experimenting with the ‘scaffolding’ effect of using two varieties to increase the poding area and allow better light penetration to the different plants. The truth is that it has come about by accident, but nonetheless I am monitoring its effect with great interest.

Wheat crops will receive a T3 spray - not a task I am looking forward to. While broad leaved weeds have been well controlled and meadow-grass was effectively eradicated, the escaping black-grass is no longer hidden below crop level. Crops look good from a distance, but travelling through them often gives a clear glimpse of the ground below, not something I want to be able to see. Judging by the amount of phone calls I’ve already received from neighbouring livestock farmers, a shortage of straw seems a foregone conclusion.

We are using multi N liquid on the Gallant wheat to promote protein levels, but with the previous granular application having received no rain at all until a week ago, maybe we should save the expense.

I’ve just heard via the local YFC gossip, that my two harvest students have been somewhat re-enacting the Red Bull F1 team of last weekend. Let’s hope they’ve done with colliding into each other before they take control of my shiny new grain trailers.

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