Words by Nicola Pace, Ruralco Senior Agronomist
We kicked off October with snow and frost – not unusual for this time of year but it can slow the emergence of recently planted crops. Weed sprays are well underway where conditions allow, although the frequent winds are proving challenging. Seed ryegrass crops are starting to close now with stock finally getting on top of the growth even with it slowing the last few weeks.
Nitrogen applications are in full swing across the district with earlier dressing showing slower uptake due to the cold conditions.
Fodder beet seed is moving quickly, and maize seed won’t be far behind flying out the door, while many growers are also starting to plan their brassica planting for next winters forage requirements, ensuring feed supplies for stock are well covered.
Wheat
Autumn sown crops are receiving their first if not second PGRs with the split application this year helping to even up crops which are still looking sad after the wet winter. Disease levels despite the wet seem reasonably low, when deciding on how to save a dollar or two, sometimes it can be beneficial to decide if a T0 is necessary. With diseases such as Fusarium or early mildew, its best to get on top of early, but if reasonably clean, then a T0 may not be required.
Check out www.aphidchat.com for what is happening with aphids in your area.
T1/leaf 3/ GS32 is always an important fungicide timing as it helps keep the base clean and to stop disease moving up onto our next key leaves which have major contributions to overall yields.
Spring cereals are currently receiving good moisture, with early herbicides and insecticides being applied.
Barley
Autumn sown barley is anywhere between GS32 and flag leaf emerging, with a high level of net blotch present around the district, hopefully a robust rate of pyraclostrobin has been applied to combat this. With flag leaf approaching, it is a good chance to use Revystar to rotate your barley chemistry and to combat ramularia within the crop.
Spring sown barleys need a lot of their nitrogen front loaded as they move so fast, so please talk to your Ruralco representative to work out your nitrogen requirements.
For full programmes please talk to your Ruralco representative.
White Clover Seed Crops
White clover seed crops are currently being grazed if out of their withholding period from winter sprays, it’s a good time to make sure you have booked in your interrow spraying as they get busy and with the wind can get behind. Some late grass herbicides are going on with the occasional escape of cereals.
Please contact your Ruralco representative for what options are available.
Ryegrass Seed Crops
Ryegrass seed crops are currently being assessed for closing timings with Nui being a day 0 1st October closing. If no early herbicide and wild oat spray has been applied, please speak with your Ruralco representative about formulating a plan as there needs to be a 10 day gap between sprays. First nitrogen applications are being applied, and soil mineral nitrogen is reported as very low levels. If ryegrass cannot be adequately grazed to close, mowing/silage is also an option but will bring forward your closing date.
For a full programme please talk to your Ruralco representative.
Fodder beet
As fodder beet seed is heading out the door, it’s important to have a pre emergent plan to follow the sowing of beet and a strong insecticide programme to give the beet the best chance of emerging evenly. The key for growing beet is early herbicides at small weed growth stages. We have a great new product this year called Komodo (acetochlor with a safener to allow for spraying on beet) as a pre emerge option which has an increased weed spectrum and allows us to save our ethofumesate for a later spray. Not all acetochlor is made the same so please be careful to only apply Komodo not any other product to the beet. We have plenty available and also have stock of Chlorpyrifos until it is gone for good.
For further information on growing fodder beet please contact your Ruralco representative.
Pasture Management
With any new or existing pastures being sown, it always important to dig a hole and check for any porina or grass grub. Slug monitoring is also important as they can do a lot of damage. It is timely to be checking pastures for weeds such as thistles, docks etc and where economic spraying, but don’t be afraid of using a grubber and some elbow grease if it’s more economical to do so. Nitrogen applications to help ryegrass and even clovers tick along help at this time of the year as early indications of clover are showing they are slow to nodulate and fix their own nitrogen with the cold. Sulphur levels have been extremely low this year due to the wet so even an application of SOA is beneficial to help kick start your pasture.
Brassica Planting
Now is a good time to be planning your brassica seed requirements with kales being the first to be planted. Good seedbed preparation is key, and soil testing allows us to make good decisions regarding crop requirements for nutrients. The addition of Trichoderma can greatly benefit early growth promotion and micronutrient uptake, please see info below.
Trichoderma on Beet and Kale
Trichoderma is a beneficial fungus that is widely used in agriculture and horticulture for its role in plant disease control and growth promotion. Once established in and around the roots it can actively mine the soil for essential micronutrients including calcium and phosphors. This is used in crops such as Fodder Beat and Kale.
Please contact a Ruralco representative for further information.
Soil Testing
Our full agronomy package allows us to have access to Ballance Agri nutrient specialist for soil testing, crop requirement plans and helping to get the best bang for your buck with your soil applications. Ballance have 7 self-service nitrogen silos placed around mid-canterbury which is ideal when the wind drops on a Saturday but before a rain to pop in and grab your prepaid nitrogen. For more information, please see https://ballance.co.nz/selfservicesilo or contact your Ruralco representative.
With all the above scenarios talk to your Ruralco representative for the best options for you and your situation.