UK: Planting updates for winter wheat, barley and oats

According to the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB), winter wheat drilling is almost complete in England, Scotland and Wales. The latest figures indicate that 27% of winter wheat was drilled in September, 46% in October and 22% in November, leaving just 5% to be planted as of November 25. Currently, 44% of the GB winter wheat crop is deemed to be in excellent or good condition, with 9% rated as poor or very poor. Early drilled winter wheat is now well established, but the later drilled crops have faced herbicide and flood damage. There have been questions regarding the best drill to use, as disk drills are causing significant smearing. Some opted for tine drills, or a plough and combi-drill set up. However, some farmers experimented with broadcasting seed, using higher seed rates and these crops are looking promising. Significantly, manganese deficiencies have been reported in sandy and light soils. Pre-emergence herbicides applied to early-drilled crops in ...