| Grain
Monitor Farm: growing oats
Robert Cross, Warrington Monitor Farm host, regularly includes oats in his
rotation. They follow wheat, two years after beans and particularly help with
brome control.
HDB Monitor Farms bring
together groups of farmers who
want to improve their businesses
by sharing performance
information and best practice
around a nationwide network of
more than 30 host farms. Monitor Farms are part
of AHDB’s wider Farm Excellence Platform, which
works with the industry to improve performance
through knowledge exchange and benchmarking.
This year Robert grew 32ha of RGT Lineout,
destined 75 per cent for human consumption to
Mornflake and 25 per cent as C1 seed for a local
company.
For 2017 harvest, the oat crop cost £300/ha in
variable costs. This is similar to Robert’s farm
average, although a falling nitrogen price has
helped reduce his outgoings slightly. Usually oats
are a very consistent crop for Robert.
“With at least a 7.5tonne/ha yield and more
than £140/tonne price there is normally a healthy
margin. I’ve found they consistently yield well and
therefore are profitable.”
This year his oats yielded around 8t/ha, with a
bushel weight of 55kg/hl.
“I was pleased with my oats this year, although
I did have reasonably high screenings and
relatively high bushel weights which is a bit of an
odd combination. I never have huge quality issues
but all the oats are cleaned through the drier
nevertheless, to boost the bushel weight.
“The oats had laid a bit but they hadn’t gone
too close to the floor so combining wasn’t too
difficult.”
A
24 | Farming Monthly | November 2017
Nitrogen
The AHDB Fertiliser Manual, formerly known as
RB209, gives a broad range of nitrogen rates for
oats, so Robert was keen to test the impact of
different rates on his own farm.
In the new AHDB Fertiliser Manual the N rate
for all SNS indices was increased by 40 kg/ha,
with the total recommended ranging from 40 to
190 kg/ha, depending on soil type.
This year he tried applying three different rates
of N to three 1ha blocks of oats: his usual
125kg/ha, as well as 150kg/ha and 175kg/ha.
Early in the season there was no visible
difference between the oats treated with different
N rates, when Robert surveyed the crop with a
drone. However, once through the yield monitor,
the crop treated with 150kg/ha N had marginally
higher yields – only around 0.1t/ha different.
“I wouldn’t say the results are overly
conclusive, and I didn’t see any particular
difference in bushel weights between the three.”
The low rainfall in 2016 – 2017 meant that there
was some debate over whether all the N had been
taken up by the plants.
Robert plans to try the on-farm experiment
again next year, again sharing the findings with
the Monitor Farm group.
Judith Stafford, AHDB Knowledge Exchange
Manager, said:
“The purpose of these on-farm experiments is
to generate discussion. Although it’s not a
scientific, replicated trial, we can still have some
very valuable debate about nitrogen rates for oats
and other crops.”
Seed rates
Usually sown at a rate of 125kg/ha, Robert
plans to try using higher seed rates next year to
combat brackling.
He will try areas of up to 5ha with three different
seed rates, based on getting 250 – 350 plants per
metre squared. Robert will compare his usual
125kg/ha with 150kg/ha and possible a higher
rate, depending on how his drill copes.
Robert said: “This year they were the flattest
oats I’ve had in four or five years but I think straw
strength has been weak this year around here. I
don’t think they went down due to excess
nitrogen.
“I think there are some fields where higher
seed rates would benefit the oats. But drilling
conditions will determine how far we actually push
them or slacken back.”
Variety choice
Next year Robert plans to grow 16ha Gerald
oats as well as 34ha RGT Lineout, to minimise the
risk of any screening issues.
This will increase the area sown to 50 ha.
Robert said: “I chose Gerald because I’ve
found it to be a reliable performer that consistently
meets milling standards here. I’ve grown it for
more than 20 years.
“Some other people around here do grow
Gerald, although most seem to focus on
Mascani.”
The Monitor Farm programme
For Robert, the most useful aspect of the
Monitor Farm experience so far has been meeting
fellow farmers and sharing ideas.
Next year he would like to look at improving his
yields and soil health across the farm
The first meeting of the season at Warrington
Monitor Farm is on Wednesday 8 November at
Cliff Lane Farm, WA4 4SH.
To attend the next meeting, or for more
information, contact Judith Stafford on
[email protected] or 07891 556623
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk