There are many key differences in farming in the United Kingdom compared to Australia.
However, for the most part, I found the study tour I took part in in June easily relatable to my experience back at home.
For much of the chemistry we currently use for annual rye grass, resistance displayed in black grass is already prolific.
Driving around the English countryside in spring, I was horrified to see paddocks with strips sprayed out with glyphosate, crop and all, in the areas where the black grass burden is greatest. Many in the tour group could not be dissuaded from the idea of using livestock, or hay and silage cuts, to reduce the weed seed bank.
However, the locals wouldn’t have a bar of using land that is so profitable in arable farming for four-legged “creatures”.
Meanwhile, the hay industry is basically non-existent, due to, I can only assume, there being enough pasture growth year-round to suffice.
Stripe rust was present in many wheat crops in the UK this year.
New strains of the disease have caused the breakdown of varietal resistance.
However, control of this is still reasonably straight forward and is likely to be covered in a regime targeted at the next topic. Septoria tritici is another game altogether.
Insensitivity to triazoles is widespread, with mixes with other chemistries necessary to help keep disease levels tolerable.
The UK’s planned exit from the European Union have relieved the domestic industry from a glyphosate ban in the interim. But it was enlightening for us Aussies to be exposed to such stringent regulations as far as what can and can’t be used.
Pirimicarb, which was recently banned in canola in the UK, was probably the biggest shock.
Many in Australia would see it as the safest option for beneficial insects in aphid control at flowering.
The long growing season of the UK – sometimes closing in on 12 months for winter crops – allows a considerably bigger window for cover cropping.
Used as a cultural control method for black grass, the most effective cover crops have been those with an open canopy, allowing for weed seed germination.
While the UK’s farmers produce some of the best yielding crops in the world, they are in deeper trouble than I care to be in.
While the UK’s farmers produce some of the best yielding crops in the world, they are in deeper trouble than I care to be in.
- Gina Kreeck
The inputs for a higher yielding environment are expected to be greater.
However, large numbers of extra dollars are being spent due to problems with resistance.
Let’s do the right things now, and protect what we have.