Blog
Look Out For Signs Of Scald
Scald is the most common cause of lameness in lambs and, if left untreated, can develop into footrot. Ewes should be kept an eye on too. It is seen as damage to the soft tissue between the toes and it caused by bacteria in the grass.
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A Summer Drought = A Shortage Of Silage?
If the dry conditions continue silage supplies will be short. This makes it critical that every blade of grass grown is either grazed or conserved.
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Making A Note Of Which Cows Run With Which Bull
With cattle turnout taking place across the country, it’s worth remembering to make a note of which cows go out to grass with which bulls. For those in the Beef Efficiency Scheme this may already be common practice seeing as the sire of each calf needs to be recorded as part of the scheme.
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Pests in soft fruits, May 2019
Pests are beginning to appear on strawberries. Aphids have already been seen on strawberries outdoors and in polytunnels. Crops should be checked for pests and any treatments applied before flowering.…
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Pests in carrots & parsnips, May 2019
Carrot flies are forecast to begin laying eggs in crops from early May. Crops that were sown with seed treated with Force ST (tefluthrin) will be protected from this first…
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Pests in spring legumes & forage and vegetable brassicas, May 2019
Spring peas & beans Spring sown crops should be checked for pea and bean weevil damage. The damage is very distinctive – notches eaten out of the sides of leaves.…
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Virus management in seed potatoes, May 2019
Protecting seed crops from the various aphid-borne potato viruses is essential to maintain the quality of Scottish seed potatoes, particularly in light of the shrinking availability of aphicides for effective…
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Managing potato blight, May 2019
It’s very difficult at this stage of the season to accurately predict how bad overall 2019 will be for blight. Will it be similar to 2018 or will there be…
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Pests in spring oilseed rape, May 2019
Under dry conditions at crop emergence flea beetles will potentially be damaging the crop up to the 4 leaf stage. Under damper conditions slugs will be the issue. Bear in…
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Pests in winter oilseed rape, May 2019
With most crops now at early flowering the risk from pollen beetle is over, as they can access the pollen they crave. With most crops now at early flowering, cabbage…
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