Best practice agronomy for cereals and oilseed rape

Best practice agronomy for cereals and oilseed rape PR01 Individuals who wish to improve the success of cereal and oilseed rape production through better practice agronomy An entry level course best suited to individuals who have a basic awareness of the subject area A one day classroom-based course TBC Bryce Rham, Independent Crop Consultant

Classroom module 1 (half day):
• Examining soil types and soil structures and the effects of cultivation
• An overview of nutrients and the effects they have on crop production
• Crop growth stages, how to recognise them and their importance in relation to crop management decisions
• The effects of plant growth regulators regulators

Classroom/field module 2 (half day): 
• Effect of weeds on crop yield and quality
• Identification of the most common weeds
• Types of herbicides and their effects
• Impact pests and diseases can have on crop yield and quality
• Identification of the most common diseases
• Types of fungicides and their effects
• Identification and life cycle of some common pests and methods of control

At the end of this course you will be able to:
• Identify different characteristics of soil types and how cultivation affects soil structure and crop growth
• How to assess crop growth stages
• The importance of growth stages to optimise the effectiveness of crop protection and fertiliser products
• How to recognise a range of the most common weeds , pests and diseases
• The different types of crop protection products available, what they do and what effect they have on crop production production