Co. Down contractor, Andrew Gibson, has put first nitrogen applications on some winter wheat crops over recent days.
“The crops in question were sown out last October and were looking well,” he explained.
“A dry spell came in at the end of February and the decision was taken to push on with a small dressing of nitrogen. And it worked, the crops in question have greened-up nicely.”
Andrew did not plant out any barley crops at all last autumn, either for himself or for clients.
“All of the wheats were sown out during October and November. They have tillered out well and there is no sign of disease getting a foothold up to now,” he continued.
“We are very weather dependent when it comes to field work. This was one of the reasons why the decision was taken to push on with some nitrogen at the end of February.
“It really is a case of getting on with field work when ground conditions permit,” he added.
The end of February also saw Andrew planting out the last of this season’s winter wheat crops.
“We will see how the crop progresses. If germination and establishment rates are poor, we can start again and push ahead with spring barley,” he confirmed.
The Hillsborough-based contractor targets the second half of March as his main planting window for spring barley.
“I operate a very traditional system, ploughing first and then in with a one-pass harrow and drill,” he explained.
Cereal growers in Northern Ireland are confirming that most autumn sown crops have wintered well. Tiller numbers are high and crop disease levels are low.
The one exception to this generally positive theme are winter wheat crops planted in November, following potatoes or forage maize.
In this area, tiller numbers are not as abundant. The consensus view is that early nitrogen applications would help boost the development prospects of these crops.
Helping to boost crop development over recent weeks has been the very dry weather conditions that have characterised the winter of 2024/25.
Rainfall levels in the run up to Christmas were exceptionally low. In turn, this helped to boost root development in crops of winter wheat, barley, oats, and oilseed rape.
Meanwhile, the weather forecast for the week ahead is exceptionally positive with little or no rain expected.
This will facilitate the planting of spring cereal crops in many parts of the country.
