Crop Rotation - which crop to choose? — **Crop Rotation – which crop to choose**?

Interactive decision chart

Now you can decide which crop rotations to grow using the interactive version of this farmer’s decision chart below.

🌱 Which Crop to Grow?

A farmer’s decision activity. Work through the field, farm and market factors before choosing a crop.

Step 1 of 5Start with the farm’s objective

1. What is the main goal for this field?

Choose the most important reason for deciding what to grow here.

2. What do you know about the field?

Select all the factors you would check before choosing the crop.

Soil type
Light, medium or heavy? Drainage
Free draining or wet? pH & fertility
Does the soil suit the crop? Previous crop
What has been grown here? Weeds & diseases
Any particular risks? Machinery
Can the farm establish and harvest it?

3. Which crops could fit?

Select the crops that could realistically fit this field and farm. There may be more than one sensible answer.

🌾

Winter wheat

High yield potential; common cereal; consider disease and previous crop.

🌾

Barley

Earlier harvest; useful cereal break; winter or spring options.

🌼

Oilseed rape

Break crop with deep roots; establishment and flea beetle risk matter.

🫘

Beans

Legume; fixes nitrogen; breaks cereal disease cycles.

🥬

Sugar beet

High-value break crop; deep rooting; needs suitable soil and machinery.

🥔

Potatoes

High-value crop; good break; specialist equipment and suitable soil needed.

🌿

Grass ley

Provides livestock feed; can build organic matter and help with weeds.

4. Final check — what else could change your decision?

Choose the factors you would investigate before committing to the crop.

Market & price
What return is realistic? Contract
Is there a secure market? Storage
Can it be stored safely? Weather risk
What could go wrong? Environment
Any rules or scheme requirements? Rotation
Does it fit the wider cropping plan?

5. Make your decision

There is rarely one “best” crop. Choose the crop that best fits the field, farm system and objectives.

🧠 Think like a farmer

Why did you choose this crop?

Use the choices above to explain your decision in your own words.

What could make you change your mind?

Think about price, soil conditions, weather, disease, weeds, machinery, livestock requirements and the rest of the rotation.