Co. Down cereal grower, Allan Chambers, is confirming that his winter wheat and barley crops have received their first nitrogen (N) application.
“Crops are looking really well, maybe too well, at the present time,” he explained.
“Winter barley receives 200kg of N/ha over three splits: 25% at the beginning of March, 65% two to three weeks later and the final 15% shortly thereafter.”
“The barley has also received a foliar application of manganese. This is now standard policy on the farm as barley is prone to that specific trace element deficiency,” he added.
Allan farms close to the town of Downpatrick. He follows a three crop rotation, comprised of winter wheat, winter barley, and forage maize.
“The barley crops were sown out in mid-September last year with the wheat following four weeks later,” he said.
“Establishment rates across all the cereals were excellent and tiller numbers are very encouraging. My one concern is that lodging could be a problem later in the season.
“With this in mind, we plan to apply a plant growth regulator twice over the coming weeks, once tillering is completed.”
Initial indications point to a significant increase in the area of winter cereals planted out in Northern Ireland last autumn, relative to the back end of 2023.
Driving this trend were the excellent ground and weather conditions that prevailed throughout the months of September and October.
The only winter cereals giving any cause for concern at the present time are November-drilled winter wheats.
But here again, plant numbers are high enough to ensure sustainable yields, come harvest.
The jury is out on how impactful Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus was on cereal crops planted in Northern Ireland last autumn.
Weather permitting, Chambers hopes to have his forage maize in the ground by April 10. And with high pressure set to dominate over the coming days, there is a good chance of this target sowing date being achieved.
All of Allan’s 2025 maize crops, which are sown under plastic, have already been forward sold.
“We harvest and deliver the crop by lorry to customers within 10 miles from the farm,” he explained.
Demand for forage maize in Northern Ireland continues to grow. The crop is widely regarded as a high quality energy source on dairy and beef farms.
Moreover, it is also in high demand as a feed stock on many of the almost 100 anaerobic digestion (AD) plants now operating in Northern Ireland.
