This year’s black-grass invasion is continuing its progress northwards. Dan Finch, an agronomist with DKB Crop Protection, has seen a marked rise in the weed in north east England, whilst Mark Ballingall of SAC last week admitted that the last bastion of Scotland has been breached with increased ingress being seen in the Borders and the Lothians.

Both put the rise down to seed being carried on contractors' vehicles and Mr. Ballingall suggests that climate change could be playing its part in encouraging the weed's foothold and its spread.

"Black-grass has been increasing over several years as more farmers opt to use a contractor for combining and baling; we are seeing that within a short period of time growers soon end up with their neighbour’s or a contractor's weed burden," said Dan Finch.

He continued, "Where black-grass is present, control strategies have to change.” The crop control expert recommended delayed drilling, using more competitive cereal varieties and changing herbicide treatments to combat the weeds' spread.

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