July 2018

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SEED CONTINUED

seed@woldmarsh.com

HERBICIDE & SEED OFFER

As more members consider growing Clearfield OSR varieties Woldmarsh has a time limited offer on two popular Clearfield varieties that will give members the opportunity to book both the seed and Clearfield herbicide with an April 2019 payment date.

The varieties are DK Imperial and Phoenix CL. Both come in 1.5m seed packs. The herbicide options are Cleravo or Cleranda. These herbicides DO NOT have to be taken with the seed but to benefit from the delayed payment, product must be on farm by end of September. Orders for the seed must be placed by 13th July 2018.

Corteva Agriscience (New name for Dow) announced in June that they will not be launching their new OSR herbicide based on the Arylex active ingredient for autumn 2018. This product could have significantly altered the weed control strategy. Launch date is now planned for 2019.

Contact James for further information.

TAKE TIME TO MONITOR YOUR CROPS

Well, we’ve made it into June after what was a very warm and, in parts, dry May. It was certainly a welcome change following the washout that was April but it hasn’t been without its challenges. While we’ve been blessed with ideal temperatures in the day, often these have

been followed by extremely cool nights and although the warmweather was well overdue, the irony is that for some it was becoming a little too dry. The rainfall towards the end of May was certainly well-timed for many areas. Hopefully the conditions have remained in your favour and by now the majority of you will have been busy drilling into a nice warm, moist seed bed!

TIPS FOR ONGOING MANAGEMENT Apply appropriate pre-emergence herbicides. Don’t wait, in the right conditions these crops will emerge in 24-48 hours. 1 6

Monitor for grass weed species such as rogue millets. These don’t generally germinate until June/July when temperatures are sufficient. Apply herbicides where appropriate.

If you only take one piece of advice...

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Actively monitor your crops. You’ve put in the time and expenses to establish them but the work doesn’t stop there. As mentioned there are a whole host of pests eager to undo all your hard work. Flea beetle, pigeons, game, hares and weeds are some of the biggest culprits with potential to wreak havoc amongst your crops if ignored. Try to stay a step ahead and always be prepared to take action or seek advice.

Monitor your crop and take appropriate action against the likes of flea beetle, hares and pigeons. Watch out for slugs across all crops, especially after rain and treat as appropriate. Be prepared to apply any post- emergence herbicides. Weeds left unchecked can soon swamp your crop.

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Apply any additional fertiliser if required.

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Consider foliar feeds, especially in stressful situations such as in extremely wet or dry conditions. Keep monitoring your crops on a regular basis, ideally as much as possible as any changes can take place within just 24 hours. If you’re unsure of what steps to take, seek guidance on what’s best for your circumstances.

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Don’t panic if you haven’t drilled! There’s still plenty of time.

CATCH AND COVER CROPS Given the removal of the use of plant protection products from Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs) in 2018, there has been a greater interest in both catch and cover crops as growers work to meet their requirements. Now is an ideal time to start thinking ahead - do you require any advice to ensure you are getting the best from the mixtures selected?

As a Woldmarsh customer, Kings is on hand to offer you expert advice regarding all aspects of green cover cropping, soil health and the ongoing management of your crops. For more guidance on any of the above, speak to your local advisor or call the Kings’ free technical helpline on 0800 587 9797. Meehal Grint Central Technical Advisor 07919013520 www.kingscrops.co.uk

James Allis / Cheryl Paul / Colin Smith