Has spring sprung?

According to the calendar it is now spring, but there are divided opinions about when spring actually starts. Is it spring when we get our first glimpse of a flowering winter aconite or when we hear the first trill of a skylark? In MARK it is spring when we can start spreading fertiliser and prepare the seedbeds. So according to MARK it is not yet spring.

We would very much like spring to arrive, but on the other hand there are quite a number of things that we would like to get done before the field work starts. We have well-nigh completed the data processing and have returned the data to the people who booked the experiments. But we need to get the machines ready, they have to be serviced, and some machines may need to be rebuilt and adapted to the new experiments that are starting. There is much to do.

New machinery has been ordered, awaiting arrival: A new sprayer, a new forage harvester and replacement of some of the old tractors with newer ones. So we need to clear out some space for the new equipment. Samples from previous years’ experiments will need to get thrown out to make space for new samples.

Throwing out is always difficult, for maybe you could use a spare part from the old tractor or the old sample could turn out to be interesting in a different context in the future. But we need to make space for new things.

Field work creates office work

The field experiments need to be carefully planned in the office before the work is taken into the field. It is therefore important that the scientists hand in the experimental designs as early as possible. The technicians need time to plan what needs to be done in each experiment. They need to check for special fertiliser requirements, whether any pest control is needed, what needs to be recorded for the experiments and when this should be done, to mention but a few of the things.

We also need to determine where in the field the experiments should be located. This is a puzzle where soil condition, preceding crop, irrigation requirements, duration of experiment (permanence) are some of the factors to be taken into account. In recent years the work with positioning the experiments in the field has become increasingly difficult, particularly in Foulum and Flakkebjerg, because the areas are just not large enough.

When an experiment is terminated it is necessary to cultivate the soil using traditional farming practices for at least two seasons before experiments again can be conducted on that area. Otherwise you risk earlier experiments influencing the results of the new experiments. This egalisation of the areas means that we can only start new experiments on about a third of the area available. We are still hoping at some point in the future to be able to purchase more land in Foulum and Flakkebjerg.

The staffing level for the season also needs to be in place. This year this has meant that we have taken on a new member of staff in Foulum and two new members in Flakkebjerg. Fortunately, it looks as if will have enough work to maintain this staffing level also in the future. We have also just about sorted out our seasonal help. We are privileged that a large number of these are exceptionally good and are returning to work for us again this year. Overall, in MARK we are nearly ready for yet another season so would be happy for spring to arrive – but, please, not during Easter!