DARD FARM MANAGEMENT NOTES FOR JULY 2004
CEREALS MANAGEMENT
Cereals at Greenmount Campus
Cereal crops at Greenmount Campus are looking well. The winter wheat crops are at the early stages of milk development (GS 71-75). Disease levels are very low with very little Septoria present. Low levels of Mildew are present on the bottom leaves in a crop of Claire.
The College's spring barley crops have completed ear emergence and are beginning to flower (GS 60). Disease levels are extremely low and therefore the crops have received no fungicide treatment to date.
Spring barley
Where control of Rhynchosporium or Mildew is required (and the crop has not already been sprayed twice with fungicide) apply a treatment containing a strobilurin (for example Amistar orTwist) and a triazole (for example Opus or Sanction) or a formulated mixture of strobilurins and triazoles (for example Landmark, Sphere or Opera).
Fungicide applications are unlikely to be cost effective after the water ripe stage (GS 71) or in crops that have a low yield potential.
Wild oats
All cereal crops should be inspected for the presence of wild oats, and any found should be rouged, bagged, removed from the field and burnt. Time spent in controlling wild oats in this way will prevent serious infestation developing in the future. Remember that a single uncontrolled wild oat this year can give rise to ten plants next year.
Pre-harvest desiccation of cereals
Growers should consider desiccating their cereals with a pre-harvest treatment of glyphosate, both as an aid to harvesting and as a means of controlling perennial weeds (for example scutch) in following crops.
The appropriate rate of glyphosate will depend on whether it is being used primarily as a crop desiccant (1-2 l/ha) or as a herbicide (2-4 l/ha). Crops should not be sprayed until grain moisture content has fallen to 30%. Spraying any earlier than this may result in yield loss. Crops can be judged to have reached the desired moisture content when thumbnail indentations in grains remain. The harvest interval is normally 7 days although it usually takes 14 days to desiccate perennial broad-leaved weeds.
Do not apply pre-harvest glyphosate to crops grown for seed or fields intended for winter stubble retention under the Countryside Management Scheme. Read product labels carefully before use.
Grain store hygiene
Now is the time to make sure grain stores and driers are clean and ready for harvest. They should be thoroughly cleaned and debris such as spilled grain removed. The store should also be inspected for signs of damage to prevent the ingress of water and ensure that it is both bird and rodent proof.
Storage pests should be monitored by placing bait bags in the store and examined after seven days (ensure bait bags are not left in the store). Treatment should only be used when pests are present or pest risk is high. Insecticides approved for grain store facilities include Actellic D and Reldan 22. Read product labels carefully before use, especially taking note of any treatment restrictions.
Countryside Management Scheme
Growers participating in the Countryside Management Scheme or Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme are reminded:
Not to apply pre-harvest glyphosate to areas/fields entered into the Retention of Winter Stubble or Conservation Cereal options (many of the weeds support insects and provide a food source for farmland birds).
Not to harvest any crops grown under the Undersown Cereals option before 1 August (earlier harvesting could endanger late nesting skylarks and other birds).
Not to use Rough Grass Field Margins as lanes or roadways.
To mow any Rough Grass Field Margins established last year at least 3 times between 15 July and 30 September (to encourage tillering).
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