Derbyshire and Lancashire Gliding Club

Field Crops - for Glider Pilots

WINTER WHEAT

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Winter wheat is sown in the autumn between September and November in a normal year, however in the case of a wet autumn this is extended into January or even early February.

As a result crops are at widely varying growth stages so this page will show crops at the most forward of the range as this is likely to be of most interest to glider pilots.

Early August

1000-1500ft

Surface

Wheat harvest will start within the next week in the east midlands and continue for around 3/4 weeks. The wheat field in the aerial shot is the pale coloured field in the top centre of the frame

Mid July

1000-1500ft

Surface

Sorry no aerial photo

Many Wheat crops are beginning to change colour as drought stress (yes really) causes premature ripening of crops on lighter soils, however most wheat crops are still dark green. The wheat field in the aerial shot is the triangular field in the centre of the frame

Late June

1000-1500ft

Surface

Now  too tall for safe landings at around 75 cm. Winter wheat will appear very dark green from the air with pronounced tramlines. NB the dark tramlines indicating that the crop is too tall for landing.

Mid June

1000-1500ft

Surface

Sorry no aerial photo

Now  too tall for safe landings at around 70 cm. Winter wheat will appear very dark green from the air and will continue to grow taller for another week or two yet. NB the dark tramlines indicating that the crop is too tall for landing. The field at the left of the image is winter wheat with peas on the right.

Late May

1000-1500ft

Surface

Now  too tall for safe landings at around 55 cm. Winter wheat will appear very dark green from the air and will continue to grow taller for another week or two yet. NB the dark tramlines indicating that the crop is too tall for landing.

Early May

1000-1500ft

Surface

Sorry no aerial photo

Now  too tall for safe landings at around 45 cm. NB the dark tramlines indicating that the crop is too tall for landing.

Late April

1000-1500ft

Surface

Sorry no aerial photo

Now too tall for safe landings at around 35 cm.

Mid April

1000-1500ft

Surface

Still just short enough to land in  at around 30cm high but beware over next 7 days more forward crops will rapidly become taller as crop enters the stem extension phase of growth.

Early April

1000-1500ft

Surface

Still short enough to land in  at around 25cm high

Late March

1000-1500ft

Surface

Still short enough to land in  at around 10-15cm high