Crop Health

Low disease levels at the start of the 2021 season converted to much higher levels by the end of the season, although there were still plenty of situations where lower input approaches to crops could be justified. Learning the lessons from the 2021 trial season and picking out the lessons for 2022 will be core to the information presented at FAS / AHDB / SRUC January agronomy workshops.

The spring barley list was consolidated considerably in 2021 with the main malting choices being Laureate and LG Diablo. The winter barley list includes the two-row feed varieties, KWS Tardis, Bolton and Bordeaux, plus two new six-row hybrids, SY Kingston and SY Thunderbolt.

Potatoes are a vegetatively propagated crop, and the health status of Scottish seed potatoes is a strategic priority. SASA, the authority responsible for safeguarding the health of Scottish Seed potatoes carries out growing crop inspections for all certified seed. A summary of the 2021 growing crop inspections has recently been released highlighting the high health status of Scottish potatoes, but also bringing timely reminders of threats that need proper management.

The 2021 potato seed crop has been in store for several months, but with some stocks being graded for export it’s timely to review management options for seed treatments.
It is important to take an integrated approach to crop management and to assess each stock on a case-by-case basis.