17 May 2012. Winter wheat crops moving towards T2 flag leaf fungicide timing. The cold weather over the last 7 days has delayed full flag leaf emergence for the majority of crops. Forecast for warmer weather next week should see these crops develop and we may find that they move through to ear emergence quickly. Eyespot and Septoria are the two main disease worries at the moment. Oilseed rape just carries on flowering with some crops now into their six week. Aggressive chocolate spot reported in winter bean crops in the South and in the East Midlands. Downy mildew on spring beans at very high levels.

• Septoria risk remains high.
• T2 fungicide timing in winter wheat a priority.
• Ear emergence out in some very forward wheat crops.
• Eyespot becoming more obvious.
• Awns emerging in winter barley.
• Sclerotinia control second treatments.
• Chocolate spot aggressive in winter beans.
• Downy mildew at high levels in spring beans.

Winter Wheat

South.  All crops now range between GS 37-39, with a few crops of Gallant sown around 22nd – 25th September now with ears emerging despite unseasonably cool conditions of late. Quite a number of September/early October sown crops of Solstice and Xi19 give the impression that if conditions warm up suddenly that they will move to ear emergence very quickly. A slightly drier week and a bit of sunshine has finally enabled spray programmes to get back on track. T2 applications now well underway and are being based primarily around 50-60% doses of Adexar or 75-80% doses of Aviator + Comet, and Seguris on those with better Septoria resistance (eg. Target, Claire and Scout).
Brown rust: only really present now in crops where T1 application timings have been seriously delayed/compromised and mainly in thicker crops of September sown Claire, Target and Solstice.
Mildew: most crops remain free of any re-infection to date – only exception is a few lush crops of Gallant/Solstice.
Yellow rust: no new foci or leaf pustule stripes seen, but remaining vigilant particularly on susceptible crops where T1 spray intervals since T0 have stretched beyond 21-28 days
Septoria: any crops where T1 applications were delayed by 14 days now have Septoria lesions beginning to show up on leaf 3 – these crops need to be sprayed as a priority with T2 applications once main shoots are at GS39 to minimise infections of leaf 2 and protect the flag leaf.
Eyespot: a lot of obvious eyespot lesions now appearing in many September/early October sown crops (particularly Cordiale, Gallant and Solstice) due to the highly favourable weather this year – some mid-September sown Gallant is beginning to lodge now due to severe penetrating eyespot.
Weed control: all spring applications of Atlantis have now been completed – so far control of black grass is looking perhaps more comprehensive than some Autumn applications have been.

Eastern Counties. Flag leaf emerging at last.
Brown rust: now showing on untreated varieties.
Yellow rust: high levels in untreated crops which are susceptible. Also now showing on crops which were treated a month or so ago.
Mildew: the more backwards crops showing quite a lot of mildew.
Eyespot: showing on crops but is not really penetrating the leaf sheath.
Septoria: showing in the older leaves and with wet weather it has a lot of potential to spread. Invicta seems to be quite badly affected.
Take-all: starting to see symptoms in second wheats even in some Latitude treated crops.
Weed control: late emerging wild oats are appearing right in the bottom of the crop canopy. Cleavers are also emerging.

East Midlands. Most crops have flag leaf emerging although the cooler weather is slowing down emergence. Vary from some 40% out to tip just showing.
Brown rust: none seen.
Yellow rust: T1 have kept crops clear but T2 will need to be timely.
Mildew: levels remain low although a bit on the lower stems of Humber but not a significant levels.
Septoria: found on many crops where T1 delayed, usually just on tip of leaf 3, but top 3-4 leaves generally clean so far.
Eyespot: can be found but not always penetrating. Expect to see more where T1 delayed, especially where using a T1 for eyespot and lack of penetration in thick crops.
Weed control: cleavers generally now under control with a final clean up at T2 where numbers low.

West Midlands. Flag leaf fully out on light land crops but elsewhere emergence of the flag leaf has virtually stopped. Warmer weather forecast for next week should see them finally emerge.
Brown rust: none seen.
Yellow rust: traces on Oakley where T1 delayed..
Mildew: none seen.
Eyespot: sharp eyespot (Rhizoctinia cerealis) rife in some crops and in worst cases crops are showing distinct pale patches.
Septoria: beginning to appear on tip of leaf 3 where T1 fungicides were delayed. T2 fungicides are all SDHIs either Aviator or Adexa.
Weed control: it is turning into a grass weed year as more bromes become visible, even after Broadway Star. Ryegrass recovering from earlier Pacifica and Broadway Star applications.

North East. All crops at least GS 37, and  a few early sown crops of Viscount and Robigus at GS 39, flag leaf fully emerged. A further 21 mm of rain over last 7 days, so tramlines are wet and muddy, but T2 has to be applied in next few days to many crops.
Brown Rust: no new infection seen.
Yellow Rust: no new infection seen.
Mildew: no new infection seen.
Eyespot: more lesions penetrating the outer leaf sheath seen this week.
Septoria: most crops still have acceptable levels of visible infection, but a few instances of dense crops of Viscount now have high levels within the crop canopy. T2 fungicides being applied as conditions permit.  Aviator Xpro @ 1 L/ha planned for Duxford, JB-Diego and Beluga. Older chemistry still on Invicta , Scout and Warrior will be Opus + Comet.
Weed control: Areas of poor control of blackgrass becoming more evident now. There are going to be some fields with significant patches come the Summer. Worst areas will be sprayed off with Glyphosate , before any viable seed is formed.

Winter Oilseed Rape 

South East. Most crops should finish flowering in the next 7-10 days now. This year has seen an incredibly extended flowering period with many crops having been in flower for 6 weeks or so now – however pod set is perhaps not as extensive as might be expected from this duration of flowering.
Phoma: no significant renewed spotting seen to date.
Light Leaf Spot: no new infections seen.
Seed Weevil : low levels of adults seen in quite a few crops in the last 7-10 days whenever sun is out.
Mealy aphids : colonies beginning to be noted around headlands in particular.
Sclerotinia: this looks to be a potentially very high risk year and any crops that have not had a fungicide for 18-21 days+ now need spraying urgently.

Eastern Counties. Most crops are still heavily in flower with no lodging yet. Pods seem to be setting well.
Light leaf spot : remained at low levels none on upper leaves, recent conditions have not been conducive to spread of this disease.
Mealy aphids : in small clusters scattered in some crops.
Pollen Beetle: surprising amount of recent pollen beetle damage on late flowering pigeon damaged crops considering the recent low temps and wet weather.
Sclerotinia: still the odd crop with the first Sclerotinia spray to apply. Some are now treating for the second time, mainly using Compass to give some help with alternaria as well. It has been such a long drawn out flowering period that we aim to treat most crops for the second time.

East Midlands. Most crops at late flowering but a lot of lower racemes still to flower in many crops and expect flowering to continue for next 2-3 weeks.
Light Leaf Spot: just odd pieces but nothing of concern.
Seed Weevil : numbers remain low with one client reporting none on front of sprayer after doing his T2 sclerotinia spray over 400 acres.
Sclerotinia: just the odd delayed spray now with rates increased to become a mid flowering spray.

West Midlands. Some crops just starting to look as though they are losing their very yellow look, but many still have flower buds yet to open within the crop. This is going to be a very protracted flowering period.
Phoma: no new infections.
Light Leaf Spot: very low levels which have not developed.
Seed weevil: the odd weevil venturing out.
Sclerotinia: first crops now hitting 4 weeks since first sclerotinia spray and still too many flowers not to do again, remember that total Proline dose must not exceed 1.26l over the season.

North East. Crops continue to flower strongly, and are currently at densest yellow. Pods are setting well. The last lot of heavy rain has lodged a few crops now, notably DK ExPower, but most crops are OK.
Phoma: no further infections seen.
Pollen Beetle: crops coming into flower are no longer at risk.
Sclerotinia: The wet conditions are highly favourable to Sclerotinia infection, and crops have been in flower for a long time now. All crops had 0.4 kg/ha Filan at early petal fall , and 0.75 L /ha Amistar is planned for approximately 21 days later.

Winter Barley.

South. Crops now at awns/ears emerging – but emergence of ears is very slow in many crops due to cool conditions.
East. Some have flag leaf out and awns poking through. Disease control is good.
East Midlands. Awns now emerging. T1 have kept net blotch and Rhynchosporium under control and T2 sprays now on with better corps getting SDHI.
West Midlands. Awns emerging on most forward crops. Even crops with two cyper applications are showing signs of BYDV.
North East. Most crops at GS 49, with awns just emerging. T2 fungicide planned for soon as awns mostly emerged.  Siltra Xpro @ 0.4 L/ha  for all crops.

Winter beans

Chocolate spot now increasing with the some crops showing aggressive form on lower leaves and chocolate spot sprays now on

Sugar beet

Crops still disappointingly behind in growth and going backwards in places as the bird grazing continues at unprecedented levels. Growers are making every effort to keep the pigeons moving, flags, balloons, scarecrows, bangers etc etc.

At last we have caught up and applied all second N dressings to crops. On some farms there has been a long gap between post –em herbicide applications and some have only just applied their first post –em. Recommendations have been out on farm for 4 weeks in some instances and amended as the delay increases. Herbicides appear to be working well and as beet are suffering doses need to be kept relatively low – we don’t want to set crops back. Once again the FAR method of frequent low doses has performed exceptionally well.