Following exceptionally mild September and October weather across the UK, with above-average temperatures and prolonged aphid activity, there is a heightened risk of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) this season, says RAGT technical manager Andrew Creasy.

“Unusually mild settled weather so far this autumn, coupled with an ample green bridge from last harvest, increases the risk of barley yellow dwarf virus,” says Andrew.

He adds that, according to the AHDB BYDV management tool, crops planted at the start of October are expected to reach the T-sum threshold for a possible insecticide treatment during the third week of the month for most of the country. However, with as much as 715,000 Ha signed up to the SFI action CIPM4 (no use of insecticide on arable crops), farmers could have insecticide restrictions if they want to claim the £45 /ha eligible for the action.

“Autumn drilling is almost complete for most farmers. Where BYDV is a concern, it will be a matter of using the risk prediction tools and applying an insecticide when thresholds are met.

“I strongly encourage farmers look now at how variety choice can alleviate the risk in the future. We have a reliable genetic solution to the yield losses caused by BYDV, allowing farmers and agronomists to focus on the many other tasks that need their attention in the autumn.

“RAGT has a high yielding BYDV resistant feed wheat candidate for the AHDB Recommended List, which could be a game-changer for next autumn,” continues Andrew

Last year, Kent farmer Richard Budd grew the BYDV-resistant group two variety RGT Goldfinch in the early drilled slot to help mitigate the increased risk of BYDV.

“After seeing what looked like BYDV on the flag leaf in Crusoe very late last year, I wonder about how much yield we lose to transient BYDV infections, which no one can tell you. But with Goldfinch, you don’t get that problem,” says Richard.

Richard values RGT Goldfinch for being inexpensive to grow, not requiring any insecticides, and having robust disease resistance, making it a useful option for early drilling on challenging land, where he’s not confident in applying sprays for BYDV in the autumn.

Drilled in the September window just before the rain, on a south-facing bank that two years previously had been decimated by BYDV, yields were in line with last season’s farm average of 7.5t/ha.

“But that doesn’t tell the whole story. It was on some heavier land, and the headlands didn’t come to much, unfortunately. But where the crop was good in the middle of the field, it was yielding as well as the best of Extase and Cheer. I was seeing 10, 11, and 12s on the yield meter, which I know is fairly well calibrated, so it can yield,” he explains.

Quality was also good with specific weights in the high 70s to low 80s, and a grain protein, which he suspects will reach milling quality specification.

He was also able to save around £75/ha on fungicides compared with other varieties on the farm this season, helped by its good disease resistance, he says. “When new fungicides are £50-60/ha, that needs considering.”

Add in a Sustainable Farming Incentive payment for no-insecticide, and it fits well into his needs, he concludes.