Words by Nicola Pace, Ruralco Senior Agronomist
August has continued to deliver typical Mid Canterbury winter conditions, with cold temperatures, frosty mornings and the occasional dusting of snow. Despite the colder weather, soil conditions remain relatively dry for this time of year, allowing good access to paddocks when required.
Across the district, calving and lambing are now well underway, while winter feed crops are steadily being grazed off as stock demand increases. Cereal crops are beginning to respond to increasing day length, with many now entering stem elongation and first nodes are starting to move. We also have only 8 weeks until grass seed crops begin to be shut up for the season.
This marks an important stage for monitoring crop growth, and planning timely nitrogen applications, growth regulation where appropriate, and early fungicide and insecticide programmes. As we transition towards spring, regular crop assessments will be key to ensuring nutrition and disease management decisions are made at optimum timing.
Insect pressure such as slugs and grass grub is still feeding, so don’t take your eye off monitoring crops or you may get caught out.
As with any agronomy, for further in-depth discussions or plans, please contact your Ruralco Representative.
Paddock Preparation
Winter is a key time to think about paddock preparation for spring crop plantings. What is my crop rotation? Does the paddock need a soil test or deep N test? What weeds do I have now for spraying out? What weeds or insects/pests could be a problem for my spring planted crop? Preparation is key, as the best way to save money is to only have to drill a crop once and do it well.
Wheat
In some areas early sown wheats are showing signs of stem elongation, and although that does seem early, we must work with what we see in the paddock on the day, not what we guess the weather or season is going to do. It is a key discussion time around the use of trace elements or leaf testing, as we can add them in with an early or split growth regulator programme. We also need key nutrients available when the plant requires them, rather than waiting to apply when we reach a certain stage, as this is the key month for the plants to set up their grains/head. Insect pressure is low, and weed pressure is still low, but having plans around these so that our sprays don’t get bottle necked is a good idea. Septoria is present in early sown wheats, but with cold temperatures and lack of rain, it is not shifting up the plant yet.
Spring wheats are being planted with confidence as the feed/milling market holds it value. Discovery has been a solid spring option for several years, providing the perfect mix of yield and quality, while Kimberly is also showing some good potential as a slightly earlier maturing variety.
Barley
Barley planting looks to remain a strong option for spring with their reliable yield and ease of growing. Unlike wheat, barley doesn’t compensate as well with tillering, therefore careful consideration to sowing rate is required. Consider your plant population when working out sowing rate, and a good seedbed to allow for optimum establishment.
When considering the use of an insecticide on your seed treatment, consider it insurance against BYDV, as unless you are spraying as soon as the barley emerges you are at risk.
Small Seed Crops
Grazing of ryegrass seed crops is in full swing, with any herbicide or wild oat spray applications being timed around grazing withholds for closing time.
We are entering a key period for weed control in white clover. Weather conditions are ideal for applying propyzamide to control grass weeds, while broadleaf herbicides are most effective when the clover is dormant.
A late winter herbicide on white clover can help with bulk control if needed.
Lucerne
We are in the lucerne spraying weather window with the biggest factor to consider being age of the stand. This will determine which sprays or rates we can use, as newer stands are not as resilient as older stands. We have plenty of options for spraying depending on your weed spectrum, so please discuss with your Ruralco Representative. The early your sprays are applied, the earlier your spring growth will happen.
If you are preparing paddocks for spring sowings, be mindful of weeds which are hard to spray out of lucerne like dandelions, and whether you should delay planting for a year or can spray out sooner.
Winter feed
Following winter feed, it's time to start planning the next crop. When deciding what to sow consider when the feed will be required, the class of stock you are feeding, your current and previous crop rotations, and which feed option is best suited to your farm environment.
We are already planning winter feed requirements for 2027, with some fodder beet varieties already running short. To ensure you get the variety you require, talk to your Ruralco Representative today. Herbicide programmes have not changed, but a pre-emergent programme is also more beneficial than chasing weeds post emergent.
Pasture Management
This is a key time of year to tidy up any thistles in pastures, while clovers are dormant. There are several different spray options dependant on your thistle type, so please get in touch to organise a paddock visit and recommendation.
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.
Seed Ordering
A reminder that Ruralco have access to all major company proprietary small seed and cereal seed at very competitive prices, we can put together seed mixes, deliver seed or an agronomy package to help reduce the cost of production on farm.
With all the above scenarios talk to your Ruralco Representative for the best options for you and your situation.