Technical notes

Crop technical notes

Organic oilseed rape in Scotland: a technical guide

TN741: Recommended grass and clover varieties 2020-2021

TN718 Phosphate and potash recommendations for crops grown in Fife, Lothian and Scottish Borders

TN717 Phosphate and potash recommendations for crops grown in North East Scotland and Tayside

TN716 Phosphate and potash recommendations for crops grown in South West Scotland

TN715 Phosphate and potash recommendations for crops grown in Highland and Islands

TN668: Managing soil phosphorus April 2015
A new soil specific approach to P management is presented that takes into account the relationship between differing soils capacity to regulate P availability for plant uptake.

TN667: Grandfathers rights. The clock is ticking

TN657: Management of copper in soils for cereals

TN656: Soils information, texture and liming

TN655: Fertiliser recommendations for soft fruit and rhubarb crops

TN651: Nitrogen recommendations for cereals, oilseed rape and potatoes
Nitrogen recommendations for cereals, oilseed rape and potatoes.

TN644: Haulm destruction in potato crops
The timely destruction of the potato haulm is important to stop bulking and optimise the yield of a marketable crop of the right specification whether seed or ware.

TN643: Weed management in grassland
This technical note describes the most important weeds of grassland and their management. It updates Technical Note 615 with many changes in herbicide approval and labels.

TN642: Tan spot in winter wheat
An outbreak of tan spot, caused by the fungus Pyrenophora triticirepentis occurred in wheat crops in East Lothian, Scotland in 2010 and 2011.

TN638: Diagnosis of herbicide damage in potatoes
Glyphosate is widely used in cereals crops as a harvest aid, to control couch grass, as a desiccant in oilseed rape and to clean up stubbles and fallow land to name but a few uses.

TN631: Potato tuber pests
A Technical Note detailing the identification and integrated control of tuber pests. There are a variety of pests that feed below the soil surface on potato roots and tubers.

TN630: Potato storage diseases
Advice on how to increase potato yields and marketability by preventing diseases during storage. Details diseases and how to control/prevent them.

TN629: Management of species rich grasslands
The species-rich grasslands referred to in this Technical Note are the naturally occurring, unimproved grasslands that support a diverse range of wildflowers.

TN627: Barley disease control
This note contains up to date information about the management of winter and spring barley diseases. New information on varietal resistance, integrated control management fungicide programmes.

TN626: Black-grass: managing the risk under Scottish conditions
This technical note covers the current black-grass situation in Scotland. It presents a picture where, through climate change, populations could become similar to those in parts of England.

TN624: Weed control in the potato crop
A constantly changing legislative environment has resulted in fewer herbicide options since the last technical note on this subject.

TN623: Fertiliser recommendations for soft fruit and rhubarb crops
Nitrogen (N) recommendations for these crops have been updated in the light of results from recent trials and advisory experience.

TN620: Winter oilseed rape pests and diseases
Winter oilseed rape is affected by a wide range of pests and diseases with new problems beginning to appear as a consequence of changes in pesticide usage and weather patterns.

TN618: Cephalosporium leaf stripe in winter wheat
Cephalosporium leaf stripe is an increasing problem on farms in Scotland where wheat is grown on short rotations.

TN609: Management of grass weeds in winter cereals
Grass weeds are an increasing problem in Scottish winter cereals crops. husbandry and herbicidal techniques are described, with particular emphasis on bromes, black-grass, rye-grass and wild-oats.

TN607: Winter wheat disease control
Integrated management of wheat diseases, including use of varietal resistance, seed treatments and fungicides for cost effective disease control.

TN605: Impact of climate change in Scotland on crop pests, weeds and disease
Summary of how climate change is likely to affect the pests, weeds and diseases we currently see on Scottish crops, and identify potential 'new' threats that can take advantage of the changed climate.

TN604: Changes in pests, weeds and diseases in Scotland over the last 20 years
The populations of pests, weeds and diseases in Scotland changes over time in response to cropping patterns, varieties, husbandry, rotation, cultivation, pesticide use and climatic changes.

TN603: Soil dwelling free-living nematodes as pests of crops
Soil dwelling nematode pests are separated into migratory (free-living) and sedentary types, which relates to their ability to move through soil whilst feeding.

TN602: Clubroot disease Of oilseed rape and other brassica crops
Clubroot management in brassicas.

TN601: Ergot disease in cereals
Ergot management including variety resistance, impact on animals and management of field margins to minimise risk.

TN596: Spring barley weed control
Guidance on weed control programmes - optimising herbicide use and minimising cost and environmental impacts.

TN584: Stem boring pests of winter oilseed rape
Highlighting the characteristics and live cycle of pests and best management practices to adopt to prevent damage to crops.

TN582: Managing set-aside and fallows for crop protection
Guidance on how set-aside and fallow breaks can be used to improve crop protection throughout the rotation.

TN580: Crop protection in reduced tillage systems
Interest in non-ploughing tillage systems has increased because of the need to reduce costs, to establish winter crops timeously and because of perceived environmental benefits.

TN586: Conservation grazing of semi-natural habitats
Most of the habitats that we value for their biodiversity have been maintained or created by human management practices, and in particular, grazing by domestic livestock.

TN553: Minimum tillage
Guidance on the benefits of this system and what to consider in adopting it

TN552: Wheat bulb fly and other fly pests of cereals
Guidance on the risks from pests and techniques to reduce damage in crops

TN551: Pests of swedes and turnips - their management and control
Guidance on pests in brassicas and techniques to reduce damage in crops

TN547: Swedes and turnips - integrated weed management
Guidance on weed competition in swedes and turnips, and both physical and chemical methods of weed control

TN540: Winter wheat and barley: the integrated management of broad-leaved weeds and meadow-grass
Guidance on key weeds, and methods of managing and treating them

TN492: Aphids and aphid-borne virus disease in potatoes
Guidance on the management and control measure that can be taken to prevent crop damage.

TN469: Choosing tyres to minimise soil damage
Guidance on all aspects of choosing alternative tyres to reduce soil damage and compaction.

Fertiliser and lime technical notes

TN731 Nitrogen Recommendations For Cereals, Oilseed Rape And Potatoes 

TN699 Agricultural use of biosolids, composts, anaerobic digestates and other industrial organic fertilisers

TN685 Sulphur recommendations for crops

TN668 Managing soil phosphorus April 2015
A new soil specific approach to P management is presented that takes into account the relationship between differing soils capacity to regulate P availability for plant uptake.

TN657: Management of copper in soils for cereals

TN656: Soils information, texture and liming

TN655: Fertiliser recommendations for soft fruit and rhubarb crops

Organic technical notes

Organic oilseed rape in Scotland: a technical guide

TN667: Grandfathers rights. The clock is ticking

TN520: Converting to organic farming
Consumer concern over the way food is produced, the effect of farming methods on the environment and animal welfare, and the healthiness of food, is increasing.

TN488: Organic vegetables in Scotland
Demand for organic vegetables is increasing steadily but over 80% of UK supply is imported. Imported organic vegetables include types widely grown by conventional growers in Scotland.

Sheep technical notes

TN 758 Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma

TN679: Castration and tail docking in lambs

TN676: Why tag and record sheep?

TN636: Control of sheep scab and other ectoparasites of sheep
In Scotland sheep scab became notifiable to the local Divisional Veterinary Manager of Animal Health under the Sheep Scab (Scotland) Order 2010.

TN617: Stockowner biosecurity
The prevention of infectious disease to livestock farm herds and flocks is more important as margins tighten and exotic diseases threaten.

TN614: Biodiversity and animal health
Both biodiversity and animal health are important issues on livestock farms. Carefully integrated farm management can benefit both wildlife and livestock and reduce diffuse pollution.

TN610: Ventilation of cattle and sheep buildings
Effective ventilation is crucial. In cattle and sheep buildings it is usual to rely on natural ventilation to create the required internal climatic conditions for housed livestock.

TN606: Sheep handling facilities
Understanding the behaviour of sheep is essential for planning and designing a sheep handling facility as well as incorporating aspects of animal and human welfare and environmental impacts.

TN586: Conservation grazing of semi-natural habitats
Most of the habitats that we value for their biodiversity have been maintained or created by human management practices, and in particular, grazing by domestic livestock.

TN577: Sustainable control of parasitic gastroeteritis in sheep in Scotland
Guidance on how best to control the spread of disease.