| Arable
Giant black-grass requires lock stock approach
Bigger black-grass heads and increased tiller numbers have been the topic of conversation for growers this year. If not managed effectively, this could pose a heightened risk for growers this autumn.
N igel Riches, Arable Technical Specialist for Certis, explains what he’ s been seeing in the field.
“ Black-grass is a problem that in
Chris the past has generally been confined to the main arable areas, in the east of the country.
“ But increasingly we’ re seeing this pernicious weed spreading further west each season. Where previously black-grass has not been a big issue in the region, it is now significantly reducing yields.
“ This year in particular, we’ ve witnessed trial work where blackgrass plants have yielded more seeds per head than previously seen, with plant tiller numbers between 10 and 30, whereas last year we were seeing between 6 to 15 tillers per plant. This is potentially due to the warm and wet winter and spring we’ ve experienced.
“ Consequently, if not kept on top of, black-grass could be back to haunt growers next year with a vengeance,” adds Mr Riches.
Year on year, growers are being encouraged to use all the tools in the box, and fully utilise cultural control methods in order to keep on top of black-grass.“ Growers need to see the benefit of taking a proactive approach to managing black-grass that consists of cultural control methods, combined with a robust herbicide programme,” he says.
A recent study published by AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds has found that by delaying sowing by roughly three weeks from mid to late September, to early or mid- October, resulted in an average of 33 % less black-grass plants per metre squared. This, combined with other control options such as ploughing, spring cropping and higher seed rates can all help control this weed.
Chris Charnock, Arable Product Manager at Certis, explains that pre-emergence herbicides are key to controlling black-grass especially at the early growth stages.“ As long as there is enough moisture at the time of application, pre-emergence herbicides are vital and effective.
“ Stacking several products with different modes of actions, one of which includes flufenacet, will help in the fight against this economically damaging weed, while helping contribute to resistance management to prolong the life of the few modes of action we currently have.
Charnock
“ A minimum of 97 % control is needed each season in order for black-grass infestations to remain static. Considering what we’ ve seen this year, growers need to be planning ahead as to how they are going to best keep on top of blackgrass in a way that is suited to their farming system,” says Mr Charnock.
Advice on combining pea harvest from PGRO
Great care should be taken when harvesting peas to maintain quality.
F requently growers are tempted to leave the crop just one or two days too long before combining. When they are ready, peas should be the priority for harvest resources.
Peas will shatter from pods more easily if left in the field too long increasing pre-harvest losses
Yield and quality can be affected very quickly if peas are left too long before harvesting, and when moisture content is allowed to fall below 12 % or peas are overdried, the proportion of‘ nonsoakers’ may increase or they may split or crack.
Bleaching will occur in bright sunny weather- and wet weather at harvest can cause staining,
adversely affecting quality. Peas will shatter from pods more easily if left in the field too long increasing pre-harvest losses. When combining, growers are advised to keep the forward speed up and good flow though the machine. Check and adjust for header and combine losses.
Peas can be combined when moisture content reaches 18 %, and higher quality seed and human consumption is often achieved by harvesting at 18 – 20 % moisture content followed by careful drying.
Attention to these points is essential. The difference between a good quality sample and one that goes for animal feed can easily be more than £ 100 / t, that is an average of £ 500 / ha off the gross margin.
14 | Farming Monthly | August 2016 www. farmingmonthly. co. uk