Level II Agricultural Business Operations

Understand and identify the key crop production targets

Be able to state performance targets for individual crop types

Gain understanding of factors affecting crop performance

Lets us see what is happening

To compare different crop types or enterprises

Alerts us to problems

Identifies areas for improvement

Required to assess profitability

Spring Barley

Spring Oats

Spring Beans

Winter Barley

Winter Wheat

WOSR

Maincrop Ware Potatoes

Spring Barley - 6.0 t/ha

Spring Oats - 5.5t/ha

Spring Beans - 4.5t/ha

Winter Barley - 7.0t/ha

Winter Wheat - 8.5t/ha

WOSR - 4.0t/ha

Maincrop Ware Potatoes- 40t/ha

Spring Barley

Winter         Spring                 Summer         AutumnJanuary February March April May June July August September

                                                                       Operation/

Growth stage

    Soil Testing                                                                      Ploughing/Cultivation                                                                    Sowing                                   Harvest                                                                           

Nutrition

                                                                                   Lime     Manganese                                      

           Seedbed N P K+Sulphur                                                  

                               Apply N balance                                          

                                                                       

Diseases

                                                                                 

                         T0

mildew                                        

                                 T1

Fungicide                                

                                                   T2

Fungicide                        Winter         Spring                 Summer         Autumn

Key targets to achieve good yields?

Sowing Date March – April Earlier - Better?

Inputs Seed rate Fertiliser Sprays

Harvest Harvest late August onwards Yield = 6t/ha Moisture content =14.5% Specific weight = 62-65kg/hl

Timeliness!!!

Sowing Date

Mid September to mid October

Inputs Seed rate Fertiliser Sprays

Harvest From late July Yield = 7t/ha Moisture content =14.5% Specific weight = 65-68kg/hl

World Record - 15.64t/ha Sowing Date September to November

Inputs Seed rate Fertiliser Sprays

Harvest End August onwards Yield = 8.5t/ha Moisture content =14.5% Specific weight =70-74kg/hl

Spring OSR Winter OSR

Sown mid Aug to early Sept

Harvest Early August

Yield - 4.0t/ha

World record 6.14t/ha

Break Crop

Sown March-April

Harvest Mid September

Yield - 2.5t/ha Moisture - 9%Oil Content – 42-45%

Break crop for wheat Winter or spring sown Yields

◦ Winter 7.5t/ha◦ Spring 6.0t/ha

Expanding milling market◦ Moisture – 13.5 %◦ Specific weight - > 50kg/hl◦ Free from odour◦ High Kernel content

Market dictates Variety which determines yield◦ Earlies◦ Processing/packing◦ Locally marketed

Planting - ◦ Seed rate affects tuber size◦ Planting date

Harvesting◦ Depends on market◦ Handling at harvest has big effect on potato quality

Setting seed rate & crop establishment

Grain Yield = Grain number X Grain weight

Grains per ear

Tillers per plant

Plants (m2)

Target plant population will vary with:

Establishment % depends on:

Variety

Sowing date

Seed Germination %

Sowing conditions

Soil type

Location

Target Crop Yields

Output/performance targets cereals

Importance of Timeliness Target Sowing dates Target Harvest dates

Potato quality parameters

Components of Grain Yield