Arable Farming

Question 1

What is an arable crop?

Answer 1

A Cultivated plant that is grown commercially on a large scale

Question 2

What are the general rules for planting crops?

Answer 2

Use crops that suit the soil and the climate best, and take it year by year, as soil and climate change.
Do not assume what grows well on your neighbors’ farm will work well on yours.
Lastly, Make sure your timing of fungicide applications is on point.

Question 3

Where is the best land for arable in Scotland?

Answer 3

Most commonly the North East of Scotland, and in the Scottish borders.

Question 4

What are the suitable soil classifications for Cereal growth and what affects this?

Answer 4

Between 1 and 3(2).

Affected by Climate, gradient, soil (including stone content), wetness and erosion.
However, local conditions such as shading, access and field size can have an impact too.

Question 5

Name the most common cereal crops used in order of importance?

Answer 5

• Spring barley
• Winter barley
• Winter oats
• Winter wheat
• biodigesters Rye and Triticale

Question 6

What other crops can be used that are not cereal in order of importance?

Answer 6

• Winter oilseed rape
• Potatoes
• Spring beans

Question 7

State the important dates for Winter crops, Spring crops and Potatoes?

Answer 7

Winter- Sown in August-October and Harvested the following July-October (1 year in the ground basically).

Spring- Sown in March-April and harvested in August-September. (6 months in the ground, quicker cash flow).

Potatoes- Sown in March-April and harvested from July-November depending on use.

Question 8

What is the general ground prep needed before planting cereal?

Answer 8

Usually starts with a stubble or grass field, which is then ploughed.
Then usually a one-pass combine drill used to work the ground, sow the seed and fertilise at the same time. However sometimes a cultivator may be used before this but depends.
The ground is then rolled.

Question 9

What soil types and conditions must you try and avoid?

Answer 9

You don’t want to be ploughing or seeding in clay-rich, very wet soil. Usually, the organic matter content is low, and they require more work and fuel from the machinery. If exposed to heat, clay soils can become very hard and dry which again is time consuming to reverse.

Question 10

What reasons other than soil, are important issues that need to be addressed?

Answer 10

Cost of machinery very expensive, and farmers often limited to what they can afford. Contractors sometimes used.

Timing is also an issue, crop has to be sown before bad weather comes to allow the seed to develop a good base.

Labour availability- linked to timing, because often when your crops are ready to be harvested, every other farm is ready too. This puts men and machinery in high demand.

Question 11

Once the crop is established what happens next?

Answer 11

Praying takes place; Herbicides kill weeds before harvest. Usually 1 application. Fungicides also sprayed to prevent disease spread. Perhaps 4 applications.

Fertiliser top dressing; normally only for Nitrogen fertilizing, usually just 1-2 applications. Used for spring barley.

Question 12

Explain how crops can be dried, such as oilseed rape? What issues can arise from this?

Answer 12

Leaving it to dry out in a wrap (swathing), or spraying it with acid to dry it (dessicating). Dessicating kills leaves, and dries crop before harvest.

And then combine the crop. If strong winds after this between you desiccating and combining, all the seeds could fall off. So be careful with the weather.

Question 13

What are the issues of using contractors?

Answer 13

Contractors usually rush jobs because it is cheaper for them, but quality usually drops as a result. If the job is small, they may delay and delay it, taking on bigger jobs which could cost you your harvest.

Question 14

What is the issue of cooperating machinery with neighbors?

Answer 14

Sharing machinery is cheaper, but often you do not get the machine when you want it or need it most. The machine is “always on the wrong farm” and this working together approach can often take a selfish turn especially on marginal years. Things may not get done on time, which can be costly.

Question 15

Name and explain the use of different fertilizers?

Answer 15

Nitrogen- speeds up growth of all parts of plant

Phosphorus-encouragement of rooting systems

potassium-general plant health

calcium (lime)- changes pH which influences nutrient availability

Magnesium, Sulphur and trace elements- less critical but benefit the soil quality in general.

Question 16

Why do we use fertilisers and what are some issues?

Answer 16

They supplement the soil with necessary elements. If they were in short supply, your crop would be permanently handicapped.
Soil analysis every 4-5 years to check on soil content.

Issues: too much fertiliser can runoff into rivers causing eutrophication.

Question 17

What does the term organic matter mean?

Answer 17

It is a portion of soil which is undergoing both plant and animal tissdue degredation. OM is often made up of manure, rotting roots, grass stems and silage on a farm.

Question 18

What physical properties of soil does natural Organic matter help with?

Answer 18

water controlling mechanism- allows water to pass and be retained, preventing severe drought or water logging. This can result in the soils warming sooner.

Soil structure- OM rich soil is usually well mixed, often by organisms and is easier to work with (friable). This makes it easier to cultivate.

Prevents soil capping- this is essentially a thin but hard skin on the soil surface, which impedes growth and creates more surface run off.

Question 19

How can you tell a soil is rich in OM?

Answer 19

Soil is usually much darker in colour, which allows more heat to be absorbed into the soil.

Question 20

What issues are we facing with carbon in soil?

Answer 20

Loss of organic matter, in poorly treated soils, which results in low carbon storage. When the soil drys, OM and carbon can be blown away in the wind creating a deficit in the soil.

Question 21

How do you prepare grain before selling?

Answer 21

The grain needs to be dried (usually approx 15%) and dressed ( to remove chaff and foreign seeds).

Question 22

Why should you not sell all of your straw?

Answer 22

straw can be sold, and you should at the right price (e.g. £20 per bail). But keep the majority, which can be used for bedding or feed which can be put back into the fields for OM.

Question 23

What Yields and moisture do you expect from spring barley and also the leftover straw?

Answer 23

Spring barely yield approx 2 1/4 ton per acre (5.5 ton per Ha). Moisture content of 17% approx so needs some drying.
Straw Yield approx 1 1/4 ton per acre (3ton per ha). This is around 6 bales per acre.

Question 24

What are the sowing conditions for spring barley?

Answer 24

Sown between March/April, and needs to be into a warm seedbed. It is better to plant later if that means the seabed is more suitable. Better than planting when soil is cold and wet. They have a short growing cycle of 6 months.

Question 25

When is spring barely harvested?

Answer 25

August/September time, which puts it at a higher risk of being harvested during poor weather. Common in NE scotland.

Question 26

What yields and moisture is expected in Winter Barley and leftover straw?

Answer 26

Barley yield around 3 1/4 ton per acre and 8 1/4 ton per Ha. 18% moisture content, so also needs some drying.
Straw yields 1.5 ton per acre (3 3/4 ton per ha) or 7 bales. Used for bedding and feed.

Question 27

What are the sowing conditions for Winter barley?

Answer 27

Suits lighter soils, and is commonly in rotation with winter oilseed rape.
Early sown in August/September as it needs a good seedbed before the weather worsens.

Question 28

What are the Harvesting conditions for WInter barley?

Answer 28

Usually harvested early July/August so off the ground when weather is still good. It sometimes needs drying and can be preserved using acid for feed.

Question 29

What yields and moisture is expected from Winter oats and leftover straw?

Answer 29

Preferably between 2.5 ton per acre (5 ton per ha). Moisture content of approx 17%.

Straw yields are approx 1.5ton per acre (3.75 ton per ha) or 7 bales.

Question 30

What is a volunteer species?

Answer 30

This is when crops from the previous years harvest re-emerge in the field the following year due to leftover seeds growing.

Question 31

What are the sowing conditions for Winter oats?

Answer 31

They suit lighter soils, with less nutrients and can grow in lower pH conditions and can be used as a pioneer species.
Usually sowed in September/October.

Question 32

What are the harvesting conditions for winter oats?

Answer 32

Usually harvested in august/september so can be out the ground while weather is still moderate.

Question 33

Why is winter oilseed rape often used?

Answer 33

It is often used in rotation with winter barley,m and acts as a “break” crop to break the cycle of diseases of cereals.

Question 34

When should Oats be sowed and harvested?

Answer 34

Sowed in August/Early September to be successful as they need a good establishment before winter. Harvested in early July/August, and winter barely often goes in immediately after.

Question 35

What are the problms of growing potatoes?

Answer 35

It is highly expensive (capital expensive). both equipment and infrastructure are needed to grow potatoes on a large scale. You need a minimum of 100 acres to make any profit off potatoes. The yield also varies considerably.