Soil

With weather and soil conditions potentially delaying another spring crop, we get some top tips for late maize drilling.

Using foliar nitrogen is one of the steps farmer Harry Heath has taken to improve the environmental footprint of his familys mixed farm near Newport, Shropshire.

Growers who have delayed spring drilling due to wet conditions are advised to use vigorous varieties, increase seed rates and tailor crop nutrition to optimise late spring crops this season.

Met with one of the wettest springs for many years, sugar beet growers have been making slow progress with drilling.

A farmer from Forfar has maintained profitabilityandimprovedsoilhealthafter introducing sheep to his arable rotation.

Simon Nelson, Agrovista agronomist covering the northwest is encouraging growers to consider early nitrogen applications for late spring crops and advises on wheat and barley spray timings approaching this season.

Farmers in priority catchment areas are now able to apply for Severn Trents Environmental Protection Scheme (STEPS) to achieve up to 30,000 to improve water quality.