Tillage Newsletter - April 2021

View newsletter here: Tillage Newsletter - April 2021 (PDF)

In this month's edition:

• Winter wheat
  April is a very important month for winter wheat crops, as they start to form their upper canopy. The crop has to be fed with nitrogen (N), and straw has to be strengthened and shortened. 
• Winter barley
  The final barley yield will be determined in April, so again prioritise crops for inputs.
• Products expiring
  2021 is a year when many more common products including some popular fungicides will expire. All products containing the active ingredient epoxiconazole, e.g., Adexar, Ceriax, Gleam, Rubric, will expire before the end of the year.
• Spring crops
  Sowing of wheat, oats and beans should be complete at this stage while there is still plenty of time to sow barley. Increase barley seed rate as you drill later into April. Aim to sow approximately 350 seeds to establish 300 plants.
• Winter oats
  Winter oats have progressed reasonably well given the weather, with most crops around GS30 by April 1. Disease levels, especially mildew, are relatively low, but as usual include a fungicide that will control mildew.
• Health and Safety: Spreading and spraying hazards
  Spraying and fertiliser spreading are high-risk jobs carried out in April.