23 September 2016. Not everyone got the rain this week and parts of east Anglia are now very dry. However, warmer than average temperatures have maintained growth where moisture is not restricting. Slugs are still the main pest to monitor with some crops now receiving their third application of pellets.

First wheats going in.
Slugs active in oilseed rape crops.
Flea Beetle some crop loss in east midlands.
Blackgrass emerging in stale seedbeds.

Winter Wheat

South. Drilling of Lili just getting underway on fields/farms with minimal blackgrass. Soils are generally moist below the surface, however, forecast for continuing dry and relatively warm conditions in the South means an emphasis on preserving moisture by rolling following drilling.
Slugs: trapping on fields after oilseed rape pre-drilling is often indicating high slug populations – populations are, however, much lower on fields that have been disced/cultivated twice pre-drilling. Rolling of seedbeds will be essential on high risk soils to minimise slug grazing issues.
Blackgrass: some useful flushes just appearing now in some stale seedbeds. Roundup applied up to 48 hours pre-drilling/cultivating. Problem fields having Crystal + DFF or Liberator + Defy at pre-/peri-emergence. Fields with difficult blackgrass are having Avadex applied after rolling.

Eastern Counties. None drilled yet.

East Midlands. Main varieties Skyfall, Trinity, Leeds, Lili, Santiago, Siskin, Gallant (usually after maize) some Graham. Just a few fields drilled so far, mainly Lili and some Skyfall about to go in. Field conditions generally good in west of area but very sticky in east. Drilling yet to start in the east of the region.

West Midlands. By end of play this week nearly 50% first wheats will have been sown, most forward crops have 1.5 true leaves. Crops are emerging in 7 days, due to adequate moisture and high soil temperatures.
Slugs: as yet no major issues, just very small areas that may need a top up with Sluxx, crops chitting so quickly that have found no hollowing as yet. All wheat drilled to date has had 4kg/ha Gusto applied, with Sluxx in stock if needed.
Blackgrass: avoid drilling for as long as possible and consider Liberator + Defy + Hurricane as a pre/peri emergence control.

North East. False seed beds greening up with black grass. More germination observed this year than last year. Drillings have started. Good seed beds being achieved with ideal weather conditions
Slugs: very low activity.

Winter Oilseed Rape 

South. Crops range from cotyledon to 3 true leaves with 75% of crops now around 2-3 true leaves.
Flea beetle: shot holing of cotyledons/leaves has fortunately been minimal to date, though low levels of activity in West Hampshire and Berkshire.
Phoma: none seen yet even on volunteers.
Slugs: surprisingly problematic on a range of soil types, with a few fields/part fields needing redrilling last week. A reminder that slugs are going to be a potential headache in all crops this autumn. High risk fields after oilseed rape have a  50-75% rate of metaldehyde 1.5% pellets applied either shortly after drilling or at peri-crop emergence. Rolling of seedbeds is essential on high risk soils to minimise slug grazing issues.
Turnip Sawfly: no larvae seen as yet (though are plenty about in oilseed rape stubbles), though adults have been very obviously egg-laying in crops over the last 10-14 days.
Blackgrass: very low germination to date, even in fields with history of blackgrass, reflecting high dormancy.
Volunteer barley: large flush in min-tilled crops after spring barley in particular.

Eastern Counties. Crops range from 6 true leaf on one farm to not emerged after 6 weeks! Still absolutely bone dry!! The only emerged rape was drilled by subsoiler method into moisture after barley. Only one grower in Suffolk has had an inch of rain on emerged rape which has helped.
Flea beetle: medium activity at present, looks worse where only a few plants have emerged. Activity on the Suffolk farm has increased and damage is now significant Hallmark at 75 ml where enough crop emerged either applied or imminent. No follow up will be used if no noticeable reduction occurs.
Slugs: very low levels.
Blackgrass: none emerged yet.

East Midlands. Growth stages between cotyledon and 4 leaf. Main varieties Windozz, Nikita, Picto, Elgar, Incentive, Vision (still does well ) and some Charger.
Flea beetle: levels generally low but damage ranges from mild to crop lost, it is worse the further east you go. However, pressure has dropped off with the recent rains.
Slugs: most fields showing signs of activity with up to 3 applications of pellets applied.
Blackgrass: high levels of blackgrass now showing. Emerging well at 1-2 leaf (where is the dormancy?). Centurion Max being lined up when crops and conditions right.

West Midlands. Some early sown crops are at 75% + ground cover, majority of crops are 2-3 true leaves, and last sown crops are fully expanded cotyledon/1st true leaf.
Flea beetle: most damage being seen on the late sown crops.
Aphids: only found cereal aphids so far no peach potato aphids found.
Slugs: still no major issues, have had to patch up some crops with Sluxx, some issues where not rolled OR drill problems. All but the lightest land has had 4kg/ha Gusto immediately post drilling, just a few crops have required a follow up with Sluxx (all repeat applications tends to be rape after wheat where not rolled).

North East. Crops range from cotyledon to 5leaf. Good drilling conditions and suitable weather resulted in good start for season. Drilling completed.
Flea beetle: no pattern of distribution observed but erratic hot spots and affected fields observed.
Slugs: some problem areas in some fields, control achieved.
Blackgrass: large proportion germinated last week. Sprays for blackgrass control underway. 

Winter Barley.

South. None sown yet.
Eastern. None sown yet.
West Midlands. Drilling started where first wheat's drilled up  
East Midlands. Belfry, Bazooka, Cassie and Glacier main varieties. Some Belfry drilled about 15th September.Pre ems on where needed – mainly Liberator+Lexus or Liberator + DFF
North East.  None sown yet.