South East. Earliest sown crops of Gallant and Solstice now around GS 30 with leaf 4 up to 50% emerged on main shoot in sheltered locations, otherwise September sown Claire, Cordiale and Scout now at end of tillering to GS 29. Mid-October onwards sown crops generally not extending yet and remain at late tillering. With some very warm days there has been some rapid growth in last week, with all crops now responding to applied N. Soils remain reasonably moist despite largely dry conditions – 7-10mm rain last Friday was ideal.
Septoria: obvious on oldest leaves, but all newer leaves appear very clean to date.
Mildew: noticeable on older leaves of thicker crops of Solstice in particular – but mostly brown and inactive now following frosts 10 days or so ago.
Brown rust: none seen.
Yellow rust: none seen.
Weed control: all unsprayed fields been largely sprayed now in last 10 days with near perfect spraying conditions – should be no weather based excuses for poor control this year! Wild oats emerging in usual suspect fields following dormancy breaking frosts of December, and also some tillered plants present in fields that only had Liberator/Crystal in the autumn – emergence looks to be largely over now. Cheetah Super or Topik will be applied with T0/T1 sprays.

South West. Wheats at last starting to green up in response to warmer days and nights.  Early September sown crops are generally at GS30 but still look yellow as the older leaves have taken quite a battering over the winter.  Once leaf 4 and consequent leaves takes dominance appearance should improve dramatically. Dry and most field operations possible. Soils at rooting depth still have adequate moisture.  A good rain to wash in fertiliser would be appreciated.
Septoria: a lot of Septoria on old leaves of susceptible varieties.
Mildew: lots of old crusted mildew on susceptible varieties on fertile sites although no fresh development.
Brown rust: none seen.
Yellow rust: none seen.
Weed control: : cleavers now growing strongly.  In worst affected fields cleaver active SU being mixed with Atlantis.

Eastern Counties. Early wheats have pushed through and many have been applying the T-zero mixes this week. 
Septoria: present in a number of varieties, notably Viscount and Oakley, treatable on some forward crops.
Mildew: present and active in forward crops.
Brown rust: none seen.
Yellow rust: confirmed on Oakley, Robigus and Humber in Essex. It has, however, apparently absent where seed treatments such as Jockey were used.  There are a good many fields of Oakley out there, and we’ve confirmed yellow rust on very few plants in no more than a handful of fields.  To date it has NOT been found on Solstice, Gallant nor on Einstein.  The addition of the fungicide with the GS30 mix should mean like last year, this important disease remains unseen throughout the season ahead.
Eyespot: low levels.
Weed control: some blackgrass now at three leaf stage where no pre-emergence has been applied and Atlantis applications now underway .

East Midlands. Forward crops at GS 29 with the odd one at GS 29-30. Most at GS 29. Very few crops warrant anything at T0 for growth regulator apart from chlormequat. Nitrogen now on and next N will be applied early April but dry weather is slowing down uptake of nitrogen as it sits on the surface.
Septoria: still confined to lower leaves and top leaves clear. Septoria risk varieties will have CCC+chlorothalonil at T0.
Mildew: has remained on lower older leaves with no new development and is not a course for concern yet.
Yellow rust: none seen but T0 planned for end March on all at risk varieties.
Eyespot: very little stem browning and the dry weather will slow down any development.
Weed control: Atlantis applied 2-3 weeks ago now working with blackgrass showing signs of uptake.

West Midlands. Crops range from GS 21-30. No wheat at GS 31 as yet although Humber and Einstein are close. T0 fungicides going on from beginning of next week. A lot of crops will have had their total March requirement (approximately 1/3rd total N) by the end of this week with most farms taking advantage of the very good traveling conditions
Septoria: visible on older leaves no action needed yet.
Mildew: frosts have reduced the levels but can see fresh pustules just starting to appear in Humber and Solstice. Tallius in with T0.
Brown rust: none seen.
Yellow rust: none seen.
Weed control: all Atlantis for blackgrass applied this week. Ryegrass control with Axial or Broadway Star this month/first week april, autumn residuals have taken a lot of the ryegrass out and cannot find it where expected! Wild oats slowly emerging.

North East. Most first wheats are at GS 30 or will be in next few days. Later sown crops mostly fully tillered. Its getting very dry now as there has only been 3 mm rainfall in March. Crops look fine, but some rain would be beneficial to increase efficient use of nitrogen.
Septoria: high levels of lesions on older leaves of all susceptible varieties, and particularly Viscount. As crops reach GS 30 a tank mix of PGR, manganese and 1.0 L Bravo is being applied to varieties with good resistance to both yellow and brown rust. These include Scout, Grafton, Cassius and Invicta.
Mildew: none seen.
Brown rust: none seen.
Yellow rust: none seen, but have been told it has been seen in the area. As crops reach GS 30 a tank mix of PGR, manganese and 0.75 L Cherokee is being applied to varieties with poor resistance to  yellow or brown rust. These include Robigus, Duxford, Oakley, Viscount and JB-Diego.
Eyespot: a low level seen, but no action planned until T1 timing.
Weed control: fields without a Blackgrass problem, and that did not get a pre- or early post-emergence application last Autumn - Othello planned for  next 7 days.

Winter Oilseed Rape

South East. Range from late rosette to green bud (ES Alienor) and all crops now trying to grow rapidly with run of milder days and nights. Pigeons still proving a real nuisance on some backward canopies – these need maximum deterrence for next 2 weeks now.
Pollen Beetle: rapid appearance of adults in last few days with some crops having over 10/plant – can’t recall having  seen such a significant early invasion before. Pyrethroid being applied only to crops where threshold levels (10-15/plant) of beetles being found and hoping that will be sufficient without the need to use Plenum/Biscaya. More backward varieties (Cabernet/Sesame etc) and pigeon grazed crops may well need Plenum/Biscaya if migration continues unabated.
Light-leaf spot: low levels were being picked up in early March in any crops not sprayed twice for Phoma.
Weed control: control in fields treated with residual herbicide  in mid-December looks excellent, and those applied in January/February showing signs of control now.

South West. Crops all look green and healthy and growing vigorously.  Flower buds raised above canopy so now too late for Galera treatments.
Pollen Beetle: numbers have risen over the recent warm days and a few backward, pigeon damaged crops are being treated.  Some plants have 40-50 adult beetles.
Weed control : Charlock has been hit by the frost. 

Eastern Counties. Very variable growth, light land rape now well into stem extension 30 cm tall other crops only just beginning stem extension. A lot of variability within fields as well. Plants were wilting in the sunshine (18C) on Wednesday afternoon. Pigeon grazing not severe but they are still working away at backward areas. Second N dressings now going on, this will be the final N for some crops on other crops we are holding back a small final dose for yellow bud stage.
Pollen Beetle: very high levels in some crops in warm sunshine- approaching threshold levels. Monitor over next few days may need to spray urgently; if not a tank mix with stem extension fungicide  would be appropriate. Use Hallmark Zeon first time through in areas where no pyrethroid resistance has been noted.
Weed control : Fox has mottled the crop and set the growth back slightly also giving a paler overall appearance. We have treated several part fields and the treated area stands out markedly. Weeds have been severley scorched but poppies are beginning to grow back from the centres. This is for larger poppies the smaller weeds were killed out right.

East Midlands. Forward crops have flower buds just starting to show – generally more forward crops on fertile ground. Crops vary from very good to very backward where pigeon damage has been severe. Some forward crops will be getting growth regulator in next couple of weeks.
Pollen Beetle : numbers have increased significantly in the last couple of days with some crops showing high numbers on early green buds – not a panic yet but if the warm settled weather continues then risk of damage to thin and backward crops could be significant
Pigeons : causing severe damage in some areas with large flocks and many claim attacks now are the worst so far this year, with fields being grazed down to the stems – not good for weed control and expect some weedy patches at harvest.
Weed control: Galera now on all crops where required.

West Midlands. Buds extending to buds showing above the crop.
Pollen Beetle: explosion of activity on Thursday massing on lead plants where buds are above the majority of the crop, 6 - 10 per head and surprisingly approaching threshold in some crops.
Weed control: Fox applications working and only light bifenox scorch noticeable, smaller target weeds dying - wait and see on the bigger ones.

North East. Stem extension is beginning now, and expect to see some rapid growth as temperatures rise. GAI assessments done over last 10 days shows most crops in the range of 0.8 – 1.6, bit there are some in the 2.0 -3.0 range where significant adjustments to total N will be made. Another application of 50 – 90 kg is planned for next 7 days. The intention is to hold back on the total so there is still 40 -60 kg to apply at yellow bud stage.
Light-leaf Spot : no crops seen with very high levels, but it is easy to find and could  develop very quickly as temperatures rise.
Weed control: there are a few areas with high levels of mayweed and/or swine thistle that has survived the Springbok.

Winter Barley.

Eastern counties. Crops range from yet to emerge through to early tillering. Mildew obvious in some crops and Net-blotch developing in early drilled crops.

West Midlands. Crops just now starting to get hold of N applied 2-3 weeks ago. None at T1 timing as yet (probably week after next). Net-blotch is most visible disease on majority of crops but new growth clean. Rhynchosporium drying in up in the sun.

East Midlands. Crops at GS 29+ but are not growing rapidly. New roots just starting to develop but again some rain to wash in N would be welcome. Mildew absent. Net-blotch and Rhynchosporium both at low levels only.

South West. Winter barley looking yellow and hungry and in need of a good soaking.

South East. Growth stages still range from GS 24-29. Crops have surprisingly only put on slow growth in last few weeks. Mildew very evident in thicker crops/areas of Cassata. T0 mildewicide (Corbel/Torch) in with Kayak in next 7-10 days. Net-blotch present at low levels in most crops of Cassata and also Boost. Rhynchosporium surprisingly high level noted in lush field of Cassata (HGCA 8 for Rhynco).

North East: A few later sown crops are just fully tillered, but most are at leaf sheath erect stage, and starting to grow quickly in the higher temperatures and longer day length. As crops reach leaf-sheath erect stage applying PGR ( Barleyquat B @ 1.25L /ha) and manganese to all crops. The manganese alone seems to help crops resist early disease and eliminates the need for an early T0 fungicide. Disease levels remain low so no treatment yet. There will be new leaves developing soon, and these will be  protected  with a fungicide at the T1 timing.

Sugar beet.

 Excellent drilling conditions most of the beet is now drilled or due to be finished in the next couple of days. This has given a tight drilling window which is relatively early so good for yield prospects and for managing the crop which should all emerge at a similar time. Earliest drilled have chitted well as soils warm this week.  Seedbeds are good due to winter tilth on heavier soils. A few fields have been rolled as soils have dried rapidly in last few days but on the whole seed is sitting on moisture with a fine dry tilth above. The drying conditions after drilling are always welcome as soils settle and become more stable and less prone to capping with any future heavy rain.