As the calendar marches on the Scottish Agronomy trials team prepare for the spring workload. Having to be patient for the ground to dry, there is no shortage of jobs to get us into a position to sow and make field applications. Through various companies, trials are requested and finalised giving us an idea of what area is required on each host farm. With this information areas of fields are marked out and plans are put together. The autumn sown trials on each site are carefully monitored over the winter and labelled when trials are confirmed.
On receipt of seed batches, the team organise them into the appropriate trials. For every plot we sow, the seed is accurately weighed into an envelope. These are then ordered into boxes according to the sowing plan and checked to ensure they match the plan. This takes up a lot of time but puts us in a position where we can be as efficient as possible when it comes to the sowing day.
Where conditions have allowed we have also been taking our chances to kickstart spray programmes and apply fertiliser. Similar to sowing, for every field application there is a lot of work from the team behind the scenes to prepare for field days. This consists of putting protocols together, making up spray and fertiliser sheets, and assigning colour-coded plans to each one. These then also go through a checking process to ensure they contain the correct information.
Before we get out into the field, we service our equipment in advance making sure they are calibrated and in good order. Our backpack sprayers and fertiliser applicators are calibrated for known products and rates. This is done well ahead of time so there are no nasty surprises when it comes to application day!
Though patiently waiting on fields to dry is frustrating, the time is valuable for all the hard work put in by the team to put us in as good a place as possible for the spring workload to commence. When we get that weather window we are in a position to go at maximum attack.
Douglas Drysdale
Trials Manager
