As the wet weather continues it is important to consider what impact this has had on the rotation and have a plan for the spring to prevent any further necessary losses.

Matt Ward, services leader, with Farmacy believes now is the time to stop and consider how to make the best of a difficult situation and avoid impacting not just on the 2020 harvest but also that of 2021.

We have to face facts that soil in many areas are already very delicate – and cannot be travelled on without causing long term damage, and even by the spring soils may not be in any better condition.

The biennial British Potato Event (BP2019) was held in Harrogate in November. Challenges from the withdrawal of crop protection products plus concerns around aphids and virus and new, aggressive blight strains, were among the principal topics of discussion.

Saltex-potential desiccant aid

Substituting diquat for desiccation is going to be difficult for growers producing indeterminate varieties such as Markies on fertile black soil, said Richard Austin Agriculture researcher Dr John Keer.

The monsoon this autumn has dictated an unplanned swing towards spring cropping as ground conditions prevent drilling.

It's been an autumnus horribilis for many, with a stubbornly positioned jet stream funnelling in low pressure systems one after the other. It's barely stopped raining since the end of September and the continuous wet weather has hit wheat drilling hard.

According to AHDB's Early Bird Survey, as a result of the weather UK growers now intend to plant 1.65 million hectares of wheat compared to 1.82M last year.

As growers continue to struggle to establish winter cereals, it has been a case of waiting to see whether crops will emerge before decision-making on herbicide application.

Farmacy agronomist Ben Treadgold, based in north Lincolnshire, estimates about 20 per cent of winter cereals have been sown in his area.

He says: “Some went in very nicely, some not so well, and we are waiting to make a call on herbicides for some which were drilled and sat in water for a week or more to see whether they emerge.

Failed oilseed rape that received autumn nitrogen will not impact on Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) limits for any replacement crop sown in the spring, advises agronomy firm Farmacy.

The issue of crop failure has unfortunately been more common in some areas this season due to high levels of cabbage stem flea beetle damage, exacerbated by tricky weather during establishment, Lincolnshire-based Farmacy agronomist Charles Wright says.