Plan ahead for Scottish spring cropping options – The Scottish Farmer
The area of spring cropping in 2023 is likely to be down on previous years given favourable conditions for autumn drilling ...
However it remains an important option for many farms in Scotland.
“This is especially true where maize and spring barley are grown for animal feed or for malting and distilling end markets, and are an important part of the rotation,” pointed out Stewart MacIntyre, Hutchinsons seed manager for the North.
“So it is important to plan variety choices carefully and secure seed early.”
Spring barley is the main spring combinable crop and is important not only for its grain and straw yield, but also for malting, or brewing end markets, particularly in the East.
Mr MacIntyre noted that spring barleys generally fared well in 2022, despite a lack of rainfall, typically averaging 5.5-7 t/ha, which is similar to many spring wheats.
“Crops on heavier ground performed better, which I put down to better water holding capacity throughout the dry spells. There was a lot of variation in yields in cereals this year, which was mainly down to soil type and growers reducing fertiliser inputs, particularly nitrogen and potassium, due to the higher prices.”
Dual use varieties, such as Laureate and LG Diablo, have dominated the spring barley options for many growers as they meet the requirements for malting and distilling as well as feed, and are likely to be popular choices again next spring.
“That being said, Malvern looks promising, with good yields in the West and a decent lodging rating. Feed varieties need to have decent yield potential and straw height, resistance to lodging and good disease resistance, particularly to rhynchosporium and, to a lesser degree, mildew,” he added.
“Ramularia is also important, but there are no RL ratings for that, so control is more about preventative action throughout the season by reducing stress and choosing the correct fungicide, rather than varietal choice,” he said. RGT Planet remained a favourite feed barley option for these reasons.
“Laureate and LG Diablo are pretty good for rhyncho – rated 7 and 6, respectively – whereas Malvern is only rated 3, so it is something we need to watch. Despite Malvern’s low score for rhyncho, with a 105 for yield in the West, it looks very promising, especially against some older varieties.”
This is a key spring crop now in Scotland for dairy feed and as a feed-stock for bio-digestors. Early maturing varieties are the go-to option, given the usually tight window for getting maize harvested in the autumn, he added.
“Maize in Scotland is usually grown under film to ensure yield and maturity. Maize harvest was generally earlier due to crops reaching maturity sooner, with yields varying anywhere from 35-60 t/ha, depending on soil type and nutrient input.”
Growers should generally look to earlier varieties with an FAO rating of 160-190, again soil type dependent, he advises.
Favourable varieties include Pioneer P7326 and P7034. “P7034 is favourite variety due to the ability to feed it almost straight out of the clamp because of its high dent starch content, allowing it to break down quicker in the rumen.”
“Minsk and DKC3218 are also useful varieties for growing under film. Prospect also does well and would be my choice if grown in the open, scoring high on the NIAB/ BSPB descriptive list for dry matter yield, with the variety topping the early variety dry matter yield.
“Perez is also a good all-rounder, particularly in the extra early slot, plus there are also some new Bayer varieties on the market which look appealing,” he said.
Although not widely grown in Scotland, spring wheat could be a useful option to fill in where winter wheat drilling could not be completed, Mr MacIntyre said.
“However, in Scotland we are up against the weather and often the crop is not drilled early enough to really maximise its full yield potential.”
The focus for spring wheat is primarily on yield for crops going into animal feed, rather than chasing protein for milling and it is the Group 2s, KWS Cochise and KWS Chilham, that have performed well locally in recent years, he pointed out.
Both offer better yield potential than the Group 1, Mulika, which has been around for 11 years and disease-wise, they are relatively strong against septoria, mildew and rust, although KWS Cochise is only rated 4 for yellow rust, which must be managed appropriately, he noted.
“Mulika has definitely got a place, though, especially as there could be a bit of patching up to do in some late-sown Group 1 wheats, given how wet the weather turned later this autumn.”
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