How to Prepare for Autumn Sowing

This Tramlines episode was recorded live at Cereals 2024.

We’re going to be talking about the key decisions facing farmers as they plan for the upcoming autumn season: what varieties to sow, the choice between certified and farm-saved seed, and how to build resilience into next season’s crops.

Setting the Scene: Key Autumn Planning Considerations

When it comes to planning for the autumn, especially around seed, what are the key elements that farmers need to focus on?

John: It all boils down to a few crucial decisions: what you want to grow, where you’re going to grow it, and making sure you source the right seed.

Supply will be important this year as certain varieties might be in short supply, so farmers need to engage early with what they want and secure it. For those who already have seed on the farm, that’s a bonus this year.

Farm-Saved Seed: Flexibility in Planning

From a farm-saved seed perspective, how does the planning differ? 

Gavin: It's similar, Planning ahead is still key, but the benefit of farm-saved seed is the flexibility it offers. You don’t have to make every decision straight away.

However, it’s important to assess the current state of your fields and prepare to get the seed dressed in a timely manner for the next season.

Key Farmer Questions at Cereals 2024

What are the main questions farmers are asking you at Cereals 2024, given the challenges they’ve faced this past autumn and spring?

Rob: The big question is around varieties: what’s new, what should they look out for, and what could be suitable for their farms after such a tough year.

Farmers are also asking about the most suitable varieties to tackle issues like disease pressure, as this spring has been particularly challenging.

Disease Pressure: A Key Factor in Variety Choice

With disease being such a big issue this spring, how does this affect variety planning?

John: It’s been an incredibly tough season for diseases like yellow rust, brown rust, and septoria. In fact, it’s been one of those 1-in-30 years for disease pressure, and many farmers are looking to change varieties as a result.

Premiums for soft wheats are looking attractive, with no significant yield drop compared to feed wheat, so there’s definitely an opportunity to switch things up.

Farm-Saved Seed vs. Certified Seed: Making the Right Decision

Do you think this will be a busy year for farm-saved seed, and why? 

Gavin: Absolutely. We're expecting one of our busiest years. Some of this is due to the quality issues from last year, and many farmers will need to put more through the system.

There’s also uncertainty about how much seed is left over from last autumn, so we’re bracing for a busy season.


How do farmers decide between certified seed and farm-saved seed?

Rob: It really depends on the individual farm. If your on-farm crops aren’t looking great, you might lean towards buying certified seed.

However, if you have seed that’s up to standard, farm-saving becomes a cost-effective option. It all comes down to assessing the condition of your crops and planning accordingly.

Soil Structure & Grass Weeds: Additional Considerations for Autumn

It’s not just about seed. Blackgrass is a major issue for many farmers. What else needs to be considered as part of autumn planning? 

John: Definitely. Besides seed, soil structure is a big consideration after such a wet season. You also need to think about how fields have been trafficked in these conditions.

Some fields will be easy to drill again, while others might require significant work to restore. Your cropping plan and variety choice should factor in these issues, as they will impact the long-term health of your soil and crops.

Seed Treatments: The Key to Successful Establishment

Let’s talk about seed treatments, which are crucial for both certified and farm-saved seed. Why are seed treatments so important this year?

John: With the challenges around blackgrass and some struggling crops, establishment is key. Many farmers might be tempted to drill early, even in less-than-ideal conditions.

Seed treatments play a critical role in promoting strong plant health right from the start, helping young plants withstand disease pressure. Manganese seed treatments, in particular, have been shown to improve plant resilience.

Variety Selection and Resilience

What varieties are you most excited about this year?

John: With the high disease pressure we’ve seen, it’s all about selecting varieties that are resilient to rusts and septoria.

Fitzroy, for example, is super clean and has been a standout variety this year with its excellent disease resistance.

Other varieties like Oxford and Palladium are also showing promise. This is a great year for farmers to really engage with variety choice, especially as we look to build more resilience into our cropping plans.

Planning Ahead: Farm-Saved Seed Logistics

In terms of logistics, what do farmers need to be doing now to ensure they’re ready for harvest and seed dressing?

Gavin:  Timing is everything. Farmers should be talking to us now to get dates in the diary for seed dressing. If you leave it too late, you might face long waits, especially as many will be eager to get started early this year after last autumn’s issues.

We’re advising farmers to be proactive and get these plans in place now.

Conclusion: Building Resilience for the Future

How do we bring everything together to ensure farmers are building resilience into their cropping plans? 

Rob:  It’s all about pulling the pieces together: assessing your fields, choosing the right varieties, and making decisions on certified versus farm-saved seed.

Every farm is different, and building resilience means planning around your own specific circumstances, particularly after such a challenging season.