14 March 2014. A drier week has helped catchup on field work. Warm sunshine in the afternoons has spurred crops on too. Oilseed rape crops are now rapidly moving towards yellow bud stage with some individual plants in the south starting to flower. Light leaf spot still remains the main disease to watch. Pollen beetle are mainly restricted to the eastern and southern counties but nowhere are they reported as being at threshold levels yet. Winter wheat crops are picking up, responding to lengthening days, warmer temperatures and nitrogen applications. Yellow rust is evident in many crops and T0 fungicides are timed for end of next week. Brown rust is evident in winter barley crops of Volume.

• Light leaf spot at high levels in South
• Pollen beetle threat as temperatures rise
• T0 fungicides planned for forward crops of wheat
• Blackgrass - outstanding herbicides need applying
• Yellow rust at low levels in most regions
• Brown rust in southern wheat
• Net-blotch and Rhynchosporium at low levels
• Sugarbeet drilling underway

Pollen Beetle. Migration into crops starts when temperatures reach 12 - 15 0C.

Winter Oilseed Rape 

South. All crops are now extending and range from  stem extension (Quartz) to Green bud (Alienor/Trinity) – many have retained a significant canopy this year, with GAI of >2 being common. First N+S applications have now all been completed, with more backward/open crops having second N applications made now before crops get too tall. Similar early extension and canopy structure in many crops to 2012, raising lodging concerns.
Pollen beetle: there are some about.
Phoma: only very low levels of renewed leaf spotting are evident in crops that were sprayed in November.
Light leaf spot: some crops/varieties are only carrying low levels (10-20%) of infection, particularly Trinity, Expower and Ovation, while some other crops are carrying severe levels of infection (60-80% of plants) particularly Alienor, Quartz and Charger.
Weed control: most Kerb was eventually applied between December and end of January but a few fields were missed out as just too wet.

Eastern Counties. There is a great variability in growth from field to field. Some fields are well into stem extension with buds proud above crop and almost at yellow bud stage others are in the very early stages of stem extension with the buds barely above the canopy. Residual nitrogen seems to have fueled the growth on light soils, e.g. turkey muck applications, inherently fertile sites and those fields which have been ploughed are the most forward. Some crops have run into early stem extension with small canopies – I have never seen the crop move into and through stem extension so quickly. PR46W21 is a variety which is moving through stem extension particularly rapidly. Within fields there is a great unevenness of growth as well. N and S – some applied a couple of weeks ago but for the majority of crops the first N+S is only just being applied and it looks set dry for a while. Therefore many crops will be moving through stem extension with little available fresh N! Plan to apply Boron with stem extension/ green bud spray to all crops.
Light leaf spot: a little LLS appearing- not developing a great deal in current dry conditions. Green /yellow bud fungicide for canopy management will be adequate and unlikely to treat beforehand except where crops missed autumn fungicide then applying Proline asap.
Pollen beetle: scarce due to recent light frosts, but be vigilant as the coming week turns warmer.
Weed control: Centurion Max and Kerb have worked well. Centurion max has caused some distorted growth in spray overlaps, twisting, thickened leaves, fusion of buds. Poppies- Astrokerb has worked exceptionally well. We ran out of time for Fox applications for charlock control in some fields – the charlock is now flowering. These are lowish populations where we did not go in early with Fox and then got caught out by the lack of frosts to weaken the charlock and ability to travel. There are several fields with a similar problem visible as you drive around.

East Midlands. Forward crops at green bud or advanced green bud with most crops at green bud showing stage. Almost all crops have a GAI of 1 or above (a few with two) and will require a growth regulator. First N now on, split where forward, delayed (and reduced) where very forward and average crops have had about half total dose mainly to fit in with sulphur requirements and fertiliser blend.
Light leaf spot: levels remain low and with vigorous growth now do not look a problem.
Pollen beetle: none seen yet.
Weed control: it is now too late in many crops for further broad-leaved weed control.

West Midlands. Green buds extending on most crops, Avatar, PRW21 and Cubic are the most forward. Some crops at yellow bud. Crops are showing some very uneven growth both within and between fields. Most will have applied N+S fertiliser by the end of this week.
Pollen beetle: still none seen but day time temperatures have been below 15C.
Club root: two cases now both on Troy, - going to start investigating purple patches to a greater degree now as initial thoughts were that the stunting was because the crop was sat in water.
Phytophthora: finding in more crops but it is in wet fields. Symptoms are purple stunted plants. In some cases the entire root system below ground has completely rotted away and plants can be easily pulled from the soil.
Light leaf spot: trace levels in some crops..
Weed control: Charlock and runch are the main issue and unfortunately it is now too late in most crops for control.


North East. Crops range from stem extension to green bud. Fast growth. Wide temperature fluctuations, with frosts in morning and warm midday temperatures.
Pollen beetle: none seen.
Light Leaf Spot: increasing levels of  light leaf spot seen.
Weed control: Propyzamide worked well in warm winter.

Winter Wheat

South. Wheats now responding to applied N+S and generally are starting to recover within 7 days of waterlogged yellowing effects. Growth stages are generally late tillering to early stem extension, with the most advanced fields approaching true GS30 – primarily Gallant and Cordiale. All crops will have had 1st N+S fertiliser applied by beginning of next week. Some lower lying and heavier fields remain very wet and soft in places preventing any fieldwork, though these are very much the minority now. In general it is remarkable how well many fields have taken the excessive winter rains.
Brown rust: generally only low levels detectable at present but likely to increase rapidly with current daytime temperatures hitting 15-17’C. T0 Triazole + Bravo mix scheduled for leaf 4 emergence – last week of March .
Yellow rust: generally most at risk varieties were treated with Galmano seed dressing, which has prevented any Yellow rust in most crops – only evident in fields/crops that did not have Galmano seed treatment (particularly Solstice, Gallant and Claire).
Mildew: no active pustules seen to date, though may well develop quickly as crops respond to applied N and canopies thicken up.
Septoria: most September/October sown crops are carrying very high levels of Septoria on older leaves.
Eyespot: stem based browning symptoms can be readily found in many crops.
Weed control: later sown crops that did not receive any autumn herbicides are now a priority. Bromes are more obvious on headlands.

Eastern Counties. The majority of crops are at GS 28 to 30 and there are some wheats after sugar beet or maize which are only at the 3-4 leaf stage. Fields are drying out with plenty of available moisture.
Yellow rust:trace levels seen in many varieties not just the low rated ones. Treatable levels in some backward crops.
Brown rust: trace levels.
Mildew: trace levels.
Eyespot: beginning to become more apparent.
Septoria: obvious on lower leaves.
Weed control: Wild oats, Fools  Parsley and Groundsel all appearing.

East Midlands. A few forward crops at GS 30 but these will stand still now for a bit until days lengthen. Most crops at GS 25-29 with later crops at 23-25. Fields drying well and most accessible for fieldwork although one or two wet spots causing wheelings. Many crops have now had first N either alone or with sulphur. Manganese continues to show up particularly as fields dry out and crops have had wet feet.
Yellow rust: levels continue to remain low and hopefully will allow crops to get another 10 days or so before T0.
Brown rust: none seen.
Septoria: remains on older leaves and will be a threat. Most  crops to have T0 generally triazole + chlorothalonil or a a few cases low rate strobilurin + triazole + chlorothalonil
Mildew: levels continue to remain low and cold nights helping to hold it back.
Eyespot: odd stems showing sharp eyespot but not a lot of lower stem based browning yet. Continue dry weather will help, although night fogs are making lower stems wet.
Weed control: any outstanding blackgrass sprays now on and continue to find odd plants in fields where sprayed indicating possible resistance. No major emergence of broad leaved weeds yet.

West Midlands. Wheat sown early September is at GS30, some main stems nearly GS31 (Grafton and Solstice). Vast majority of the remaining crops which were sown from mid/end of the following week are still at the mid tillering stage. Crops sown end of November/early December are still only at the 3-4 leaf stage/1 tiller (mainly where used 2012 seed, which was not fit for purpose then and most certainly was not of any use at this late stage of the season in 2013). Field conditions have dramatically improved on 14 days ago, with light land farms beavering away with fertiliser applications last week, and pretty much all the rest joining in this week. Still some very wet patches in most fields, which are being avoided for now.
Yellow rust: treatable levels on early October sown Oakley, early sown Solstice and Viscount still clean.
Brown rust: none seen.
Septoria: early sown crops carrying high levels.
Mildew: recent frosts keeping this under control.
Weed control: bromes are well tillered in early sown wheat crops, more manageable in crops sown in late September onwards, plough drill fields are clean.

North East. Most crops range between GS 23 -25 but forward crops are beginning to extend. There are some lush crops with many tillers in some instances.
Yellow rust: seen in Leeds, Santiago and Kielder - T0 planned.
Brown rust: found in Target - T0 planned.
Mildew: levels have declined.
Septoria: present in many crops.
Wheat bulb fly: dead-hearts in some crops.
Weed control: cleavers and knotgrass beginning to emerge.

Winter Barley.

South.  Crops now generally at GS24-30. N+S been applied to all crops, with remainder being applied in two splits around end March and mid-April. Rhynchosporium levels increasing rapidly on older leaves in crops of Cassata and Glacier particularly. Brown rust in Volume.
Eastern. Some are very thick up to GS 28+ and fairly consistent.
West Midlands. Crops recovering from the wet conditions and most are at end of tillering. Rhynchosporium and Net-blotch present at low levels. Brown rust on Volume.
East Midlands. Forward crops at GS 26-29 but generally at 24-26. Rhynchosporium and Net-blotch present at low levels.
North East.  Crops range from GS 24 to GS 29. Some crops are lush with many tillers. Low levels of mildew, Net-blotch and brown rust.

Sugar Beet

What a difference a year makes! With warm dry conditions sugar beet drilling is under way. The dry forecast ahead is encouraging, giving us quite a wide window for drilling progress at the moment. A dry forecast helps avoiding heavy rain soon after drilling allows the soil to stabilise and be less vulnerable to capping. We aim to apply Nitrogen ( + sulphur where no FYM has been used) and a pre-emergence herbicide ( where used- not always used in conjunction with a FAR programme) straight after drilling.