Simultaneous seed and slug pellets deliver low cost rape

COMBINING seeding with slug pellet application has proved a cost-effective way of establishing winter oilseed rape in Essex.

David Hall’s honest appraisal of oilseed rape establishment in 2007 and 2008 is that it was less than successful. A late wheat harvest meant battling to get the rape properly established, says Mr Hall, who manages JE Hutley and Son’s 800ha (2000 acre) business out of Camsix Farm, near Chelmsford.

Weather played a big factor on heavier land and pigeons and slugs were a major problem. With over 220ha (550 acres) of the crop grown in a typical season, a new solution had to be found.

And last year, Mr Hall invested in a 5m Simba SL cultivator to replace existing subsoiler and cultivator seeders.

“We were just about to buy a standard rape seeder to go with it when we came across the Horstine Farmery Twin Air system of seeding oilseed rape at the same time as applying slug pellets. Combining the two jobs in one really appealed to us.

“We don’t have a huge number of staff here, so to apply seed and pellets at the same time was a bonus.”

A close rotation on top poor weather on heavier land had exacerbated the slug problem. Mr Hall decided to apply pellets when sowing to provide immediate protection to the crop. The Twin Air places pellets through deflector plates rather than broadcasting – an important development in light of slug pellet stewardship.

The unit metres both the slug pellets and seed accurately.

“A lot of farmers apply slug pellets off the back of a set of rolls, often a job done by a student. But with the pellets going on at the same time as seeding, I know I’ve got a skilled operator doing the job.”

For this season, the Twin Air and SL cultivator, one tractor and one operator replaced the previously used subsoiler/seeder and cultivator/seeder, two tractors and two operators.

It also reduced the overall number of passes.

Weather conditions have been more favourable this season, making year-on-year financial comparisons difficult. But Mr Hall believes he has saved a conservative £25/ha (£10/acre). Applying seed and slug pellets at the same time has been very beneficial, he says.

“We now have 550 acres of fantastic looking rape, despite the fact that on one farm there was very little rain.”