Waiting For the Water to go Down

Dear Reader

If you're really lucky, you haven’t been too badly hit by the recent adverse weather. But if you're like much of the UK, you have, in some way, been affected by the high levels of rainfall and flooding that we've experienced. What can you do while you're waiting for the flood waters to subside? Will you be ready when they do go down? What will you need to do, to get your land back into good condition?

This issue of Growing Skills looks at who has been affected in the UK and what you can do while you're waiting for the water to go down.

Best wishes,

James

Waiting For the Water to Go Down

Bad weather happens and farmers shoulder the burden, but the past 12 months has seen their mettle tested to new limits. Fields have flooded numerous times and while some crops can survive the odd short flood, they can't cope with constant flooding, if the land is never really allowed to drain properly.

It is only now becoming apparent just how bad 2012 was for farmers, particularly those in the north-west and south-west. Wheat yields were at their lowest level since the 1980s; potato yields at their lowest since 1976. The oilseed rape harvest and barley yields also suffered. Livestock farmers were hit too, as the wet weather conditions sent the price of animal feed soaring as farmers have been forced to keep their animals indoors.

What can you do, going forward?

Fallow fields – while it may be tempting to try to drill spring crops to make up the shortfall from lost winter cereals, anything after April will simply put back harvest and compromise establishing a decent winter crop next year. When fields are still anaerobic, it may be best to leave them fallow, removing any compaction from last season when the soil is fit.

Continue with cropping – fallowing may not help heavy fertile soils as the soil can slump and so it may need some cropping to maintain a good structure. In these cases, growing industrial crops of winter wheat and oilseed rape may be better than leaving heavy clay loams idle. Make a note of any areas of the field which need particular attention, when soil conditions allow, following the crop.

Change the rotation – rotational changes may give you more time. For instance, instead of establishing oilseed rape after winter wheat, try drilling more winter barley to gain time for oilseed rape, so that establishment and yield are not compromised.

Testing time – soil nitrogen levels are variable between years, soil types and regions, but after such heavy rainfall, soil testing could be worthwhile to tailor fertiliser applications to crop needs. Soil nitrogen levels are likely to be low, in areas which have remained wet or are prone to leaching, due to the heavy rains. Testing can be useful, although it has limited value on shallow and lighter soils where nitrogen levels are usually low. In reasonably drained areas nitrogen levels may be slightly higher due to reduced crop yields.

Focus on nutrition – growers will need to pay more attention to crop nutrition this season, as factors such as increased leaching caused by last year's higher rainfall could result in lower soil reserves. Last year's wet summer, declining soil organic matters, increased straw removal and the trend to more frequent oilseed rape cropping – these could all combine to lower the availability of nutrients essential for optimum crop growth. Now is the time to test your soil to find out what help it will need this year.

The British weather is unpredictable, but by thinking ahead, you can start to be prepared for when the water eventually goes down and spring arrives.

Book Your Place on One of Our Courses

At the Rural Skills Centre, we run courses in soil and water management, fertiliser application and agronomy. We currently have some places remaining on the following courses. Click here to book your place and avoid disappointment, as the courses do fill up.

• BASIS Soil and Water Management Certificate – June 18-21 2013. Revision day on 24 June with the exam on 25 June 2013.
• BASIS Certificate in Conservation Management – June 17-19 2013. The exam is on the afternoon of 19 June.
• Basis Nutrient Management – 26-27 June 2013. Optional exams are being held on 28 June 2013 for those who wish to take them.