South East. Peter Cowlrick reports that growth stages range from emergence to GS 11 to 22/23, with bulk of crops now at around GS 21-22+. Earlier crops sown into dry seedbeds  still variable with dual growth stages in many fields, ranging from GS 21-24+. Soils are now very wet after 100mm+ rain in last 14 days and many lower lying fields now too wet to spray for time being. Ongoing wet and windy weather seriously hampering spraying – we have now not had a spraying day for over 2 weeks.
Brown rust: low levels now being found in earlier sown Claire.
Mildew: moderately high levels on older leaves of Claire/Cordiale in particular.
Slugs: with wet soils and warm nights slug activity has increased again in last week on stonier/heavier areas of fields, with shredding damage being largely caused by juvenile slugs.
Weed Control: significant flush of blackgrass evident now and growing away from pre-/peri-emergence herbicides, even in fields where control has been good in last few years – warm, moist soils seem to be encouraging blackgrass to break dormancy and establish quickly with emerged wheat.

South West. Stephen Harrison reports that growth has slowed as days shorten. Growth stages vary from GS 12 to 26 with mid September drillings strongly tillered.  Earlier mildew and slight brown rust has faded. Land extremely wet with water lying in the tramlines.  Little prospect of any spraying unless we have a sustained dry spell although as this is likely to bring lower temperatures conditions for contact materials may not be ideal.
Brown rust: no increase.
Yellow rust: low levels seen in Oakley volunteers on over wintered stubbles.
Mildew: levels have dropped except in the densest crops in sheltered areas.
Aphids: a few winged aphids seen.
Slugs:  are  active (not just after rape) and are feeding on the emerging shoot below ground  level.  Continued mild weather is  required for these areas to produce a satisfactory plant stand.
Weed Control: blackgrass generally being held by pre ems although a few dense patches on difficult sites where seed beds were dry are giving cause for concern and will be targeted with Atlantis at earliest opportunity.
Bromes: very high emergence of Sterile Bromes in non plough situations will be targeted with Atlantis or Broadway Star depending whether or not blackgrass is present.

East Midlands. Martin Eudall reports that little change in growth with forward crops at GS 22-23 and later crops at GS 13. Fields fine for travel but wind and showers has meant no field work possible. Odd field now getting wet headlands and will need a few days to travel but most field will travel if weather calms down.
Mildew: some mildew found on Solstice but not at any worrying  levels.
Aphids: numbers generally low.
Slugs: damage now almost non existent and many spray stores have many bags of unused pellets.
Weed control: blackgrass romping away now with many fields with blackgrass at 2-3 leaves where nothing two weeks ago. Many crops destined to have Atlantis still waiting but later crops after maize or late second wheat not a lot more blackgrass emergence and with low populations will wait until spring for any treatment.

West Midlands. Bryce Rham reports that crops range from emerging through to GS 26. Some early drilled fields are anywhere from 2-3 leaves up to GS 26 in the same field. Ground conditions now at a point where we need several dry days before spraying can continue.
Mildew: almost all varieties have low level of mildew.
Aphids: no new arrivals.
Slugs: getting problems on wheat after oats, and some  problems with min tilled wheat again where drilled early and slow to get away.
Weed Control: most crops sprayed but some later ones still to treat. Recent rains have brought field work to a halt.

Eastern Counties. Brendan Butterworth reports that most wheat at early tillering stage. Fields after sugar beet and Potatoes very wet with some water laying on the soil surface. Majority of fields travelling well.
Mildew: Claire and Viscount have a lot of mildew.
Slugs: activity dropping off with cooler temperatures but have had high levels of leaf stripping on cloddy and unconsolidated seedbed especially after oilseed rape. Some late drilled wheat seed has been hollowed out.
Aphids: heavy rain, colder night temperatures plus high winds have decreased numbers.
Weed control: blackgrass levels variable from nil to 3 tillered on forward drilled crops. 2-3 leaf blackgrass appearing in crops recently drilled now being treated with contact herbicide where seedbeds are fine and consolidated. Growth of blackgrass slowing due to a decrease in temperature.

North East. Phillip Tuplin reports that most forward wheats have 3-4 tillers and  because an above average percentage of seeds have successfully established some of these crops are very thick now. Later sown crops at early tillering. Land is fairly wet now. Short days with few good drying conditions has meant no spray applications this week.  One dry day though will be enough to get us going again.
Mildew: none seen.
Slugs: conditions are ideal for slugs but only a few areas of grazing been seen.
Weed control: where blackgrass is at 3 leaves or more the plan is to spray as soon as have good conditions. For now soil temperatures are not an issue. The mix being applied is Atlantis + Cinder/Stomp+ Bio-Power.

Winter Barley.

South east: crops now at early tillering. Blackgrass now coming through pre-emergence treatments.

South west: now thick and lush after sustained damp, relatively mild growing conditions.

Eastern region: majority of crops now at early tillering and have picked up since the rain. Min-tilled crops into barley stubbles have high levels of net-blotch.

East midlands: crops at early tillering and look very well.

West midlands: crops growing very rapidly considering the time of year.

North east: severe yellowing in compacted ares of fields where becoming water-logged. Varying levels of mildew in most crops now. Cassia and Saffron currently with highest but still not severe levels.