20 September 2013. A very different late September to last year thank goodness with no one wishing to celebrate the anniversary of last years deluge. A dry period forecast should see the autumn sowing plan completed this year in good conditions. However, harvest is still to be completed with some spring cereals still uncut along with spring oilseed rape and beans to be brought in.

• Earliest winter wheat emerging
• Slugs active in some crops
• Blackgrass emerging good opportunity for stale seedbeds
• Oilseed rape range from cotyledon to 4 true leaves
• Harvest not yet complete

Winter Oilseed Rape 

South. All fields drilled and range from Cotyledon to 2-3 true leaves – around half of crops are now around 1-2 true leaves.
Phoma: none seen to date, even on volunteers in nearby rape stubbles – however recent rains throughout  September to date could mean an earlier spore release than last year.
Slugs: good seedbeds and dry soils have minimised problems to date this autumn in most cases.
Turnip Sawfly: no larvae seen as yet, though adults noted egg-laying on true leaves of more advanced crops during warm weather around 10 days ago.
Weed control: moderate/high levels of blackgrass emerged/emerging in some crops, particularly after spring barley, indicating low dormancy in shed seed. Aramo (1lt/ha) being applied where required and timed to target blackgrass before tillering. Hoping that the residual efficacy of metazachlor will also help with control. Worst fields are planned to have Centurion Max applied when crop is at 3 leaves+ and Kerb sequenced later in November/December. Volunteer cereals – large flush in min-tilled crops after spring barley in particular.

Eastern Counties. Seedbeds are all now well wetted to seed depth, however germination and growth has slowed following the recent drop in temperatures and although the earlier drilled fields , especially on the lighter soil types in NW Norfolk) are now well established with up to 4 leaves ( mainly expanded two true leaf stage) in later drilled fields plants are still emerging. Establishment overall looks promising. Some purpling of small cotyledon rape struggling in trashy areas and there may be some effects from the pre-emergence herbicides after the recent rain. These effects are not widespread.
Slugs: becoming more apparent on cloddier areas but have not thinned crop drastically at present. Second dose of 3% metaldehyde being applied to patches where slug activity has been seen in slow to emerge crops.
Weed control: most crops have now been sprayed to remove volunteer barley. Some min tilled fields following wheat now being sprayed for volunteers. Where Novall was not applied pre-em being tank mixed with Falcon. Urging speedy application once rape emerged but hopefully ahead of the weeds. Where Novall has been split second top –up application now being applied.

East Midlands. Many crops now emerged with growth stages from 4-6 leaves down to cotyledon-1 leaf in drier soils. Generally good take.
Slugs: no major slug activity but at risk crops have a low rate of pellets to ensure crop survival.
Weed control: blackgrass starting to emerge and will receive Aramo or Centurion Max when good flush there. Pre ems and early post ems are working well but usual Centium whitening which crops growing away from.

West Midlands. Majority of the crop is now at cotyledon to 4+ true leaves, crops drilled last week are emerging nearly 98% planned area now drilled. Wet weather over the last 2 weeks has helped the dry seedbed crops to come through and grow away ( the rain has had some uses!!).
Slugs: some patches of crop loss on particularly heavy ground and on min tilled lighter land. Need monitoring carefully.


North East. Crops range from cotyledon to 3 true leaf. There has been more germination this week with the damp soils. Average temperature for the week: 12.3 degrees. Rain – 19.3 mm for the week.
Slugs: odd slugs seen, low grazing starting to be seen in places.
Weed control : blackgrass emerging.

Winter Wheat

South. Drilling of Claire and Scout just underway this week. Solstice, Gallant, Crusoe  and Cordiale planned for drilling next week and Xi19 in early October. As ever, the aim is to sow most first wheats  by end of September (except crops after Grain maize/potatoes etc). Any farms growing second wheat Cordiale/Solstice with Latitude planning to finish drilling these by 5th-10th October. An unsettled week has hampered any significant drilling progress except on some lighter ground – soils are now moist following around 40mm of rain in the last 7 days, and with a good week or so of weather being forecast, fields should work down well to produce good seedbeds. All except the finest seedbeds will need rolling to optimise performance of pre-emergence sprays and also help reduce slug risk.
Slugs: trapping of fields after oilseed rape pre-/or post-drilling is indicating generally only low levels of slug activity to date – populations appear to be very low on any fields that have been disced/cultivated twice pre-drilling.
Weed control: 40-60mm of rain in September have encouraged some useful blackgrass flushes in stale seedbeds, so hopefully in-crop populations should be lower on the worst fields. Blackgrass also found emerging within 5-7 days of drilling in few fields drilled to date – these having Roundup applied with Pre-emergence sprays.

Eastern Counties. Drilling is under way but very little has emerged.

East Midlands. First wheat going in now but most will be next week when weather improves. Over wintered 2012 seed continues to be variable in germination with some as low as 73 % These will be drilled at higher seed rate and first so that if re drilling is required then there will be time. Main varieties continue to be the front line ones, Santiago ,Invicta, Gallant, Panorama, J B Diego with Weaver, Leeds and Relay amongst the newer ones.
Weed control: good flush in stubbles and will be glyphosated off. Pre ems look to be going onto good seed beds but a long dry spell is not required.

West Midlands. Most forward crops of Grafton now emerged, remaining crops all chitted and not far from emerging (crops spurting within 24-48hrs of drilling at the moment ). 15-20mm of rain since last report has somewhat hampered drilling and slowed the min till boys down, now need dry weather to dry out worked ground before the big toys can start rolling again. Main varieties are Grafton, JB Diego, Relay, Leeds, Oakley, Gallant, Solstice, Invicta, Santiago and small amount of Horatio.
Slugs: So far so good one block that is up and rolled with Gusto applied 2 days after drilling no grazing at all at the moment. Hollowing found on Deter dressed seed where into cloddy seedbed and not covered properly. Slugs can be found on most min tilled ground after oilseed rape so expecting to apply minis at or prior to emergence
Weed control: pre-ems going on where needed.

North East. Some early plantings now underway.