The Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) has just published its latest crop development report for the UK and it makes pretty good reading for growers.
This has been one of the best recent years for spring planting; drilling of spring wheat, barley, and oats was completed during March and April.
However, challenges have been noted with spring oilseed rape drilling, and areas not yet planted are likely to be switched to other crops.
Crop development report
Overall, disease pressure for all crops remains low. However, the dry conditions are beginning to affect crop development.
Some spring barley and spring oat crops also needed to be re-drilled in some areas.
Meanwhile, winter oilseed rape has been replaced with spring linseed in some areas of severe pigeon damage.
From March to early April, conditions were dry, with UK average rainfall below the long-term average. Eastern England had just 6mm of rain in March, making it extremely dry.
April rain
By mid-April, rainfall returned, although there were substantial regional differences with the south-west experiencing higher levels, while the west midlands saw comparatively little.
Prior to the mid-April rainfall, crop growth had stalled. However, since the rainfall, crops that received rain have begun to develop, and some winter barley is now well ahead of its usual growth stage.
In the west midlands, following 10-20mm of rainfall, nitrogen is now being taken up and crops are showing signs of recovery.
In the far north of north-east England, conditions remain very dry with no recent rainfall and crops are showing signs of stress.
Meanwhile, in the east midlands, barley has been irrigated where water resources are available.
Parts of Scotland also received less than 10mm in April.
It is also worth noting that the withdrawal of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) in England to new applicants has led to an increase in the retention of very poor crops, according to the AHDB.
These crops would otherwise have been taken off production and the land entered into the scheme.
In contrast, tillage farmers across the island of Ireland have enjoyed a favourable spring so far, with approximately 60mm of rainfall recorded during the second fortnight of April.
Disease levels within Irish crops remain low.
However, the growing threat of yellow rust in many parts of the island is giving considerable cause for concern, as is the first confirmation of glyphosate resistance within an Italian ryegrass population.
