This year has started off as a difficult one for many tillage farmers.

Weather has delayed winter crop management and spring sowing, fertiliser and fuel prices have sky-rocketed and grain prices have only moved up slightly.

It is easy to look at the negatives, but let’s be positive.

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Winter crops, in general, look very good and have great potential if they are minded over the coming months.

Spring crops started to go in at the end of March. Many farmers purchased fertiliser before prices jumped. It is not all negative.

We have to be realistic, tillage farmers are under pressure, a wet start to the year burns more fuel and premium markets are not as plentiful, but we must play the hand we are dealt.

Protein payment

Many are doing this. They are maximising their beans area to receive a protein payment, planting catch crops under schemes and chopping straw that is not wanted.

All of this money has to be maximised.

To stay positive, we need to mind our crops. They are in the ground now or will be in soon. The biggest investments have been made – seed, sowing, fertiliser and land rental.

In order to get a return from them you need to keep weeds, disease and pests out.

Cutting corners at this stage may be counter-productive. But do spend wisely. Be efficient with application timings, don’t allow disease to take hold in a crop and end up applying more product, for example.

Agronomy programmes

Tom McCabe has some insight into how agronomy programmes have developed over the years. Steven Kildea lays out clearly how to manage wheat crops to keep yellow rust and septoria at bay.

Farmers must always think ahead.

Will cutting back or cutting out on herbicide now, result in a bigger problem on your farm in two-, or three-year’s time with resistance build up? That will cost more to manage than taking action now. The data from VJ Bhaskar on herbicide resistance is a huge concern, but we can use tools to prevent it.

The product lists are of course in the middle of the magazine. Use them for deciding on products, for your records and examine the products that are there. Question products – why are you using it, what formulation is it?

Do the simple things right. Examine your recommended lists, hand rogue weeds, walk crops regularly, test weeds for resistance and keep on top of issues.