Unpredictable weather makes grain analysis essential for future planning

Alli Arden, Agronomy Manager at agricultural analysis laboratory NRM, recommends booking grain analysis at harvest to help combat the unpredictable weather conditions we are seeing more often in the UK.

‘We had record rainfall in autumn and winter, resulting in a very wet start to the season,’ she says. ‘Not only was rainfall in October 122% of the 30 year average, but we had four named storms from late September to early November, resulting in major flooding across the UK. This drastically affected autumn-sown drilling and crop establishment, and fewer were drilled overall. Growers who decided to redrill in the spring due to this poor establishment are likely to see lower yields this year—but we aren’t sure of the crop’s nutritional value until we check with analysis.’

With this in mind, Alli is encouraging farmers to take a proactive approach and assess crop nutrient capture and offtake through NRM’s grain analysis service, GrainCheck.

‘The results gathered through GrainCheck analysis will allow growers to check how well their crops did this season, assess what went well and what didn’t, and refine management plans for the following season,’ she says. ‘Overall, rainfall, temperatures, and general conditions have become unpredictable over the last few years, making it harder for growers to manage their enterprises effectively. To be as ready as possible for next season and combat unpredictable weather, we need to start planning now with grain and soil analysis.’

NRM’s GrainCheck is an innovative grain analysis package for cereals for assessing crop nutrient capture and offtake, helping you adjust nutrient plans for the following season. It includes a range of  nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, N:S ratio and micronutrients, and GrainCheck Plus also includes molybdenum analysis. Results should be interpreted alongside soil and tissue test results to give a full understanding of the effectiveness of crop nutrition programmes.

Alli asserts that mitigation strategies are most effective when combining analysis services with expert advice. Not only has NRM developed an online calculator where farmers can convert their results into nutrient offtake in kg per hectare, but GrainCheck comes with recommendations based on the RB209 recommendation for routine grain analysis.

‘Once you’ve got your results and input them into our calculator, it can be difficult to know how to relate this to seasonal, unpredictable weather conditions,’ Alli says. ‘For example, heavy rainfall like we’ve seen this year can leach essential nutrients from the soil, reducing availability for crops and increasing the risk of pollution. In situations where soils are free draining, improving soil water holding capacity is crucial for sustained growth and optimal productivity. It’s also important to note that the effectiveness of mitigation strategies will likely vary depending on factors like physical aspects, including soil type, the farm enterprise, and attitude and mindset.

‘Reviewing how well crops have utilised nutrients during the previous season will help figure out how well certain strategies worked and how best to farm, guiding your decision-making. But don’t just take my word for it—Rob Briscoe, of Lower House Farm in Cheshire, uses GrainCheck as part of a well-rounded, season-long analysis plan every year to decide if he needs to adjust his management for the following season. This has led to more insightful decision-making for improved nutrient use efficiency, increased profitability, enhanced climate resilience, and ultimately sustainable farm productivity.’

‘Optimising crop production and improving profitability is very important to our customers. By giving growers expert advice through our agronomists, Sajjad Awan and Alli, we are helping our customers understand the context of their results so they can make better decisions,’ said Sean Stevenson, Commercial Director of Cawood Agriculture. ‘This, coupled with our innovative suites of tests, helps to cement our position as the UK’s leading agronomy analysis laboratory.’

Learn more about GrainCheck and contact us today to order your sample kit ready for harvest.