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The author talks about his farming experience in partnership with his parents at Pickwick Lodge Farm in Wiltshire, England. He cites his plan of implementing a two-application strategy on winter oilseed rape. He thinks that some people are applying nitrogen too early when the plant does not necessarily need it, which then lead poor grain samples or lodge crops.

The author presents an update on the changes to his farm business at Ouse Bank Farm in Great Bradford, Bedfordshire, England. One of the changes in his cropping is the switch from growing mainly Group 2 wheat varieties to Group 4 softs and hards. He points to the extra costs of nitrogen required to achieve higher proteins in order to secure a decent premium as the reason for the change of his cropping method. He also notes the loss of tonnage of sugar beet due to frosting.

The article offers updates on various crop farms across England. In Dorset, early-drilled wheats on fertile sites have started developing, with some main tillers at GS 30. Rape crops in Lincolnshire have, or are about to receive their first top dressing of nitrogen with sulphur, while second and late-drilled wheats will be top-dressed at the end of February 2008. Most cereal crops are relatively free of disease in Northumberland.

The article focuses on the effect of the dry season on farms in Lincolnshire, England. It notes that crops have been slow to take up applied nitrogen and more tillers than usual have been dropped in an effort to sustain growth. Wildlife is also affected by the lack of rainfall. It mentions that dry slugs have been coming up on heavy land.

The author provides updates on his farm in England. He relates that because of good weather conditions in March 2007, they had applied 50 units of nitrogen to their wheat and barley crops and put the final dose in early April. He remarks that he is having a difficult time trying to submit his Whole Farm Approach farm appraisal online or using the compact disc.

Discusses the condition of oilseed rape crops in England, with regard to the concerns raised by its harvest in 2004. Crop yields of Hants-based Robin Appel; Quality of crops at Camgrain stores; Nitrogen target and estimated yield for the crop at a farm owned by Robert Fison in Cambridgeshire. INSET: Winter barley weighs well.