Farming News - AICC Crop Report
News
AICC Crop Report
5 March 2010. The winter seems as reluctance to leave as a pig is to go to market. A little growth seen in some oilseed rape crops and first signs of wheat bulb fly damage in the East. Still very little field work achieved but some advisers cautioning about going in with too much nitrogen too soon on large crops of oilseed rape.
Winter Oilseed Rape
South East. Crops have 6–9+ true leaves – crops are now at rosette stage, hugging the ground and mostly looking purple reflecting recent frosts and cold winds. No sign of any new growth as yet. With low residual soil Nitrogen levels in evidence, first priority will be to apply N+S to most crops once ground and weather conditions are suitable.
first lesions beginning to show now in crops where no fungicides applied pre-Xmas. Proline/Sanction will be applied prior to stem extension to prevent infection of new growth.
Weed control: frost has proved to be a very effective natural “herbicide” on charlock in most crops this year, so much so that most fields will now not need Fox at 0.75-1.00 lt/ha applied (under SOLA). A few fields where rape has been grown closer than 1 year in 4/5 and headlands have moderate levels of Hedge Mustard – these will have Fox but with Oil added to try and boost control.
South West. Rape is now pushing up clusters of green leaf and early spring growth is under way. Noticeable how much greener rape is on last years fertiliser overlaps confirming early sample indications that soil mineral N levels are low this year. First N plus S now being applied and any outstanding fungicide applications being made.
Light leaf spot: can be found where the pigeons have left some leaf and prothioconazole treatments will be applied as soon as ground allows. Careful assessments needed as not all leaf blotches are LLS. If in doubt incubate in polythene bags in a warm place and look out for sporulation
Weed control: Charlock – despite apparent good kill from the frost, closer inspection of charlock patches reveals many surviving small plants so planned Fox applications will still go ahead.
Eastern Counties. Oilseed rape has lost a lot of green leaf in recent weeks and some crops have lost colour becoming very purple. This seems to be more of a problem where soils have been slow to drain and in compacted areas. A few plants seem to be rotting off at ground level ( frost damage?). Generally plant size is good and crops are well rooted, the centres are just beginning to show some growth. Very wet, water lying in some fields other lighter free draining soils beginning to dry out. First N + S dressing planned as soon as we can travel starting with crops with lowest GAI.
Planning to apply fungicides with growth regulatory effects to several fields which have large LAI ( despite winter die back) and relatively high populations. Will monitor LLS and take action accordingly.
Light leaf spot: very little seen in NW Norfolk crops.
Weed control: effects of Kerb + contact graminicide applied pre-Christmas now showing up very well, blackgrass control looks good. One or two farms have not managed to apply Kerb or Carbetamex aiming for Laser + oil when warmer to have some activity on blackgrass.
East Midlands. Crops still struggling to put out much top growth but new root growth happening – some soils still very wet leading to blue patches. N about to go on – many crops to receive 100 kg/ha + sulphur, but if growth remains very slow may split first application where urea being used.
Weed control: Kerb appears to be working well with usual stem symptoms but weeds still look quite green in one or two crops even where Kerb activity seen. Assuming it is down to weeds being “refrigerated” during cold weather, although what slow grow has done to uptake we will have to wait and see. A few delayed applications getting carbetamex this week.
West Midlands. Crops range from bare ground due to pigeons through to overly large crops. Canopies have opened up a lot over the last month as lower leaves die off. Continuing this week with small amounts of N/SO3 being applied to the late drilled crops that struggled to establish and some light land crops. Otherwise will attempt to hold everyone back for another fortnight
Weed control: Charlock in oilseed rape crops has been totally destroyed by the frosts and will not need any treatment, Runch on the other hand has survived and will need treating. At the moment the ground conditions are lousy even the light ground too wet to do anything and cannot see anything being done for at least a fortnight.
North east. Most crops technically still 8-12 leaves, but there is a lot of winter kill due to cold wet soils, and also severe pigeon damage in many crops. Despite the cold conditions, there is some heat in the sun when it appears and crops are just starting to respond. No further operations been done, as even if have a good frost there are areas with water in tramlines which are still impassable.
Light Leaf Spot: no obvious symptoms seen, but its a long time since last fungicide applied so further protection is planned for new growth.
Weed control: where Fox+ Toil applied in December control of Charlock is good, but Runch control is more variable. In some fields the frosts have killed Charlock and Runch, so earlier recommendations for Fox have been withdrawn. Others will still need to be treated.
Winter Wheat.
South East. Growth stages remain in suspended animation due to sustained cold weather and low soil temperatures and range from GS 13 to 22/23, with bulk of crops now at around GS 23+. Continuation of protracted cold weather since mid December has effectively curtailed crop growth for nearly 2 ½ months now, and with heavy rain in last 10 days (2 ½ inches+) soils are again wet and cold, so little prospect of significant growth for a while yet.
Brown rust: none seen.
Yellow rust: none seen.
Mildew: gone in the frost.
Weed control: some significant populations of blackgrass evident following pre-/peri-emergence herbicides – growth stages range from GS12-23 now, but fortunately little growth has happened in last 2 months of cold weather. Outstanding Atlantis applications will be made once soil temperatures recover to 6 C+ - probably not before mid-March.
South West. Wheat has greened up and certainly looks fresher than 2 weeks ago. Some new leaf has developed. Growth stages still very much vegetative. Sunshine has also improved some of the manganese deficient areas. Virtually all land should travel in the tramlines by next week, assuming forecasts are correct.
Brown rust: gone in the frost.
Yellow rust: frost keeping it at bay for now.
Mildew: gone in the frost.
Weed control: fields which missed treatment last autumn in non blackgrass situations have high annual meadow grass populations which will require Othello when things warm up.
Eastern Counties. Crops range from one to seven tillers but the majority are at the three tiller stage. Condition of crops improving with warmer weather conditions. Soils at field capacity apart from very light land. Some phosphate and potash applications underway where field conditions allow. First nitrogen dressings expected next week.
Wheat Bulb fly: 1% plant invasion on some fields.
Brown rust: odd pustules on susceptible varieties; Duxford, Zebedee, Cordiale.
Yellow rust: none seen.
Mildew: disease present on late drilled crops and on susceptible varieties, Solstice, Conqueror and Claire, but not active.
Septoria: apparent in early drilled and forward crops. Disease not very active.
Weed control: Blackgrass present from and tillering, plants not actively growing and no action until ground warms up.
East Midlands. Some sign of growth with new roots just showing but on the whole very slow with continued night frosts keeping soil temps down. In spite of some drying weather soils still very wet. Most clay loams difficult for travel but sandy clay loams would carry.
Brown rust: none seen.
Yellow rust: none seen.
Mildew: gone in the frost.
Septoria: usual lesions found on older leaves.
Weed control: drying soils give some hope but soil temps still only 4-5 deg C and need some consistent increases in soil temps to think of spraying. Forecast of cold days and night frosts to continue for some days yet – blackgrass still relatively dormant so isn't getting away.
West Midlands. Crops range from GS 25 to GS 11. Drying up nicely over the last 4-5 days, BUT still too cold to apply any herbicides. Min till ground is definitely the driest.
Still have approx 1000 acres with no autumn herbicide. There are quite a few fields showing with manganese deficiency symptoms which I think is being exacerbated by signs of frost lift (primarily on the lighter soils). Trace elements being applied where the symptoms are severe (not sure whether warm enough to get into the plants?).
More P and K being applied this week due to ground conditions once again improving. Applying small amounts of N/S03 to late drilled and thin crops (30-40kg/ha N).
Brown rust: none seen.
Yellow rust: none seen.
Mildew: sorted out by the cold weather.
Septoria: low levels on bottom leaves.
Weed control: in unsprayed crops annual meadow grass varies between quite a lot (particularly on headlands) to very little. These will get Othello and will use at a minimum of 0.75l/ha +contact (eg Boxer/Checker). Cleavers evident on most fields. Othello+stomp: good control of annual meadow grass and Rye grass where present plus a host of broad leaved weeds.
North east: first wheats mostly GS 24-25 mid tillering, and later sown crops GS 21-23. Yet another 23mm rainfall in last 14 days, so still little chance of any field operations until get a few consecutive dry days.
Temperatures are too low to consider PGR applications yet.
Severe manganese deficiency showing in patches in a few fields despite having a dose in the Autumn. Have broadcast a Manganese granule with a Quad bike where have worst case, as plants are being lost.
Brown rust: none seen.
Yellow rust: none seen. As this is a high risk area will apply a T0 fungicide to all varieties with a resistance rating of 5 or less. This includes Oakley, Robigus, Duxford, Gallant, Glasgow and Viscount. The T0 is likely to be either Centaur+Bravo, or Cherokee.
Mildew: gone in the frost.
Septoria: very high levels on all susceptible varieties, and surprisingly severe on Viscount. Robigus is relatively clean.
Weed control: very little Atlantis applied last Autumn so there are some challenging Blackgrass situations this Spring. The applications made last Autumn look as if they have been very effective, but dense patches have some surviving green tillers .
Winter Barley.
Showing typical late winter yellowness. If weather improves first N will be applied.
Net-blotch.
Eastern Counties: present in forward crops, particularly Cassata and Pearl and second barley crops. Disease not currently active.
NE - Moderate level in the more susceptible varieties such as Carat , Cassata and Retriever, and very little in Cassia, Volume and Saffron.