Seed
At CROPCO we want you to receive the best possible advice when choosing your varieties. From rotational planning and variety selection through to the delivery of your seeds, our dedicated staff are here to help every step of the way. With our own storage and distribution network you can rely on us to fulfil your order in a timely and professional manner. Explore our seed selection below.
Cereals
seedontime™ is our unique guarantee of delivery. It means you can order with confidence and be certain that your drilling operations will run smoothly. If we miss an agreed delivery date for your cereal seed, we will refund 50% of the seed cost……That’s a promise! Our complete range of Cereal Seeds includes:
- New Varieties
- Mainstream varieties
- Hybrid Wheat, Barley & Rye
Pulses
Pulse crops broaden your rotation, providing you with more first wheat opportunities.
A high yielding Spring Bean will present you with more market opportunities both domestically and for export. On very heavy soils Winter Beans can be a more favourable choice.
Peas will suit the medium and lighter soils on your farm where firm, well rolled seedbeds allow for easier harvesting conditions later. Variety choice and end market are directly linked so it’s best to have a clear end market in mind before committing to grow Peas.
Oilseeds
Winter OSR remains the most profitable arable break crop. The challenge is reliable crop establishment which is determined by both favourable weather & seed bed conditions, and whether Flea Beetle are present. OSR varieties with strong establishment vigour and rapid Spring development are the ones to select.
Clearfield varieties assist with crop establishment where herbicide residues are present from a previous crop, following a Summer of low rainfall.
Companion Crops
There are many benefits to companion cropping including use as a fertiliser and pest control.
For example: OSR can be grown with a companion crop to reduce flea beetle; buckwheat grows vigorously so can protect the oilseed rape crop from flea beetle, and fenugreek has a natural odour to deter flea beetle. The addition of red vetch and berseem clover in OSR will fix nitrogen in the soil.
Companion crops can be grown as straights or in mixtures for all round control. Options and grower objectives are numerous; please tell us your experiences.
Cover Crops
Cover crops are grown between periods of regular crop production to protect the soils structure and increase organic matter. They are often sown in the autumn as an entry to spring cropping or they may be grown for longer periods depending on the approach used.
Cover crops may be used as a ‘catch crop’ to help reduce nutrient losses via run-off and leaching. They are hugely beneficial to soil structure as their roots prevent soil erosion during times of heavy rainfall. The roots can also help to open up soils, improving access to water and nutrients.
Wildflowers
In the transition to the new Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS), wildflowers may be a good starting point. They can be grown in blocks around the farm or the margins of fields. Strips of wildflowers around field edges will encourage natural predators reducing our reliance on chemical insecticides.
Wildflowers are beneficial for pollinators providing a food source and habitat which attracts pollen feeding insects to your farm margins and field corners. Along with helping pollinate nearby crops, these insects will also provide a food source for farmland birds.
Maize & Other Forage Crops
With so many Forage Maize varieties being sold in the UK it’s impossible to compare them all. Select by maturity group, starch content and overall yield. Good soil conditions avoiding COMPACTION are essential to growing a successful Maize crop.
We stock a full range of: Maize Varieties, Stubble Turnips, Forage Rape, Forage Rye, Kale, Swede & Fodder Beet; please ask.
Grass Mixtures
With a standard range of over 30 grass seed mixtures we should have something suitable and ready to deliver. If not, we’re able to offer a range of specialist tailor-made mixtures.
Our main range comes complete with Headstart Gold seed treatment. This accelerates seedling establishment and improves rooting, giving your new grass ley the best start possible. To offer you our best advice we need to understand how you want to utilise your grass and for how many years. Just give us a call.
Game Cover
We sell a range of game cover which can meet the individual needs of your shoot. Some have compact growing habits to allow straight beating lines, while others screen the guns allowing them to get into position without disturbing the birds.
There are also environmental benefits for wildlife, especially when sowing a mixture of species to create a more diverse habitat.