Let us spray

Last year was particularly tough for establishing game cover. The incessant rain and lower than average temperatures in May and Tune made for difficult conditions.

Germination was poorer than expected, growth was sporadic and a lot of early vigour was lost as the plants struggled with the conditions. Most of us managed to grow a crop of sorts, but it was rare to find a keeper who was satisfied with how they had grown.

Bigger flushes on shoot days and problems running birds on to flushing points, coupled with poorer general holding cover and fewer seeds in the feed-bearing crops, made