With low yields, combined with low prices, the 2025 harvest delivered a double whammy many farmers would rather forget. Now as winter crops race through the ground following near-perfect drilling conditions, the focus must rapidly shift from last season's challenges to what happens next. The uncertainties around future support schemes, and the loss of the BPS payment buffer, mean risk management must drive every decision. 

Yara's Partnership & Value Chain Manager, Mark Tucker, has seen first-hand just how well winter crops are establishing themselves. The hot, dry summer created high soil temperatures and cracked ground, resulting in exceptional seed beds. Coupled with late September moisture, crops drilled just 10 to 14 days ago are now emerging in seven to 10 days. Whilst this rapid establishment is encouraging, it brings the critical question of how to maintain that momentum through to harvest.  

"Every decision has to be a justified one," Mark explained. "We really need to think about what the basics are for the crops that are being drilled – Afterall, yield is king." 

The first 60 days define yield potential 

Yara was an active partner in the 13-year Yield Enhancement Network and learnings here highlighted that crop momentum and biomass are the absolute pillars of yield. The first 50 to 60 days of a crop's life are when shoot numbers, biomass and root size develop – making this the most important time for setting crops up to achieve high yields. 

"The good news is that carryover nitrogen from lower yielding previous crops, combined with high soil temperatures and moisture, mean right now nitrogen availability should not be limiting." Mark said.  However, as cereal crops move from the three-leaf stage and exhaust their seed supplies, they'll depend on soil nutrition.  

"The key then is making sure there isn't any stalling of that growth for lack of key nutrients, other than nitrogen," continued Mark. "Phosphate, manganese, copper, zinc – all of those nutrients will have such a critical part to play in the further development of shoots, floral parts and ultimately yield at harvest." 

Prioritising pre-Christmas foliar applications 

With the need to minimise passes and control costs, foliar applications, delivered alongside herbicide or insecticide treatments, offer the most efficient approach. Where known nutritional issues exist, proactive foliar nutrition in these early weeks can deliver significant benefits. "If the window is there to get some pre-Christmas foliar nutrition into that crop, then it really will bode well for next spring," Mark said.  

Any unused products remaining on farm won't be wasted – they can be prioritised immediately in February or March as soon as conditions allow traffic. However, optimising returns from applications typically means seizing pre-Christmas opportunities. 

YaraVita Crop Boost, containing foliar phosphate, stands out as the priority product for this time of year through to very early spring, followed by YaraVita Gramitrel later in spring for cereals. For oilseed rape crops, YaraVita Brassitrel Pro – containing manganese, magnesium, boron and molybdenum – should be applied now. 

Managing risk by taking an aerial view 

Historic grain analysis, particularly for phosphate, can pinpoint areas of risk. With grain prices remaining challenging, high establishment costs and the drive for high yields, managing risk out of programmes, rather than managing risk in, becomes essential. 

"You can either play around with risky management, or you can have risk management," Mark noted. "I think it's very much a case of risk management – identify the risks and then manage them accordingly." 

The Yara Atfarm app offers satellite imagery to monitor crop emergence, enabling farmers to prioritise crops showing slower establishment or development with targeted foliar applications. This quick glance from the skies helps identify which crops need intervention to get back on track. 

Later drillers face even greater urgency. For farmers who rightly delayed drilling to maximise black grass control, the same principles apply but with even greater importance. Later drilling into cooling soils means slower emergence and a delayed start. These crops particularly need every opportunity to build biomass pre-Christmas, establishing the foundation that gives the best chance of high yields. 

Improved margins see oilseed rape return south  

After several years as predominantly northern crop, oilseed rape is being grown on more farms in the south again. For anyone returning to the crop, building maximum leaf and biomass this side of Christmas is critical. The evidence consistently shows that bigger biomass crops require less nitrogen as a spring application, meaning autumn investment in foliar nutrition pays dividends through reduced spring nitrogen requirements. 

"Building that now at this time of year, whilst yes, you're investing in that crop, is going to pay dividends next spring because you won't need as much nitrogen on it," Mark concluded.